The National Assembly is poised to begin confirmation hearings for the 22-member Cabinet nominations after President William Ruto’s announcement yesterday.
The joint session is slated to feature a speech from Ruto, opening the door for more meetings.
Speaker Moses Wetangula will inform the members of the nominees before the House reconvenes.
The House Committee on Appointments will then be in charge of holding the hearings after which he will send the names of the nominees to them.
The Committee, once created, is required to give the candidate and the general public at least seven days’ notice of the time and place of the approval hearings before holding them.
The Committee will hold hearings within 21 days and then present its report to the House, recommending confirmation or rejection of a nominee.
If the National Assembly approves, the Cabinet Secretaries (CSs) will be paid a monthly salary of Sh924,000.
A CS is eligible for a base salary of Sh554,400, a home allowance of Sh200,000, and a market adjustment of Sh169,600, for a total gross income of Sh924,000, according to a recent Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) gazette notification.
Additionally, Cabinet Secretaries will be given an official state vehicle with a maximum 3000cc engine.
They will also receive medical benefits, which include annual medical coverage for one spouse and up to four children who are completely dependent on the state officer and are under the age of twenty-five.
The benefits are as follows: Inpatient Sh10 million, outpatient Sh300,000, Sh150,000 for maternity, Sh75,000 for dental, and Sh75,000 for eye care.
A car loan for Sh10 million and a mortgage for Sh40 million will also be available to state officials.
State officials will receive a daily subsistence payment for both domestic and international travel at the rates periodically evaluated and established by SRC.
A monthly Airtime incentive of up to Sh20,000 will also be given to them.
A security team must be given and cannot be exchanged for money, per the Inspector-General of Police’s recommendations.
The constitution of Kenya states that the primary duty of Cabinet Secretaries is to oversee and direct ministries.
They all report to the president and are required to update the parliament on their ministries on a regular basis.