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{
    "id": 522826,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/522826/?format=api",
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    "content": "Kipchichir Boinet for appointment to the position of Inspector–General of the National Police Service. While conveying the Message, I indicated that having consulted with my brother, the Hon. Speaker of the National Assembly, and taking into account the strict 14 day timeline stipulated in the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval Act), No. 33 of 2011 and also the prolonged vacancy in the office of the Inspector-General, an important constitutional office holder and a host of activities that required to be undertaken within that short period of time, we agreed that the vetting of the nominee be jointly conducted by the Senate Standing Committee on National Security and Foreign Relations and the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security. In arriving at this decision, it was observed that Section 9 of the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval Act) states that if after the expiry of the 14 day period for consideration of the nomination, Parliament has neither approved nor rejected the nomination of the candidate, the candidate would be deemed to have been approved for appointment. However, In light of these timelines and the requirement for approval of the nomination by both Houses of Parliament, Parliament runs the real risk of failing to meet the stipulated timelines thereby abdicating its important constitutional function of vetting the Inspector–General of the National Police Service. This would be a great disservice to the people of Kenya who are anxiously waiting the vetting of the nominee and the eventual appointment of a new Inspector-General. I must, however, hasten to add that, the establishment of a Joint Committee of the two Houses for vetting of a nominee for appointment should not be an exceptional measure to be taken out of necessity such as the case in this situation. This should not and was not intended to be the general rule or the precedent to be applied for the future processes. As such, it is of utmost importance that the timelines in the Public Appointment (Parliamentary Approval Act) which are replicated in Section 12 of the National Police Service Act, No.11A of 2011, be scrutinized with a view to ensuring the practicality of the timelines in the context of a bicameral Parliament. It is evident that the timelines set out in these provisions of the law did not take into account the dual vetting processes to be undertaken by the approval of both Houses of Parliament is required. In this regard, I hereby direct the Standing Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights to interrogate this matter further and to Table its Report within 21 days of this Communication. I thank you."
}