Garissa Township MP Aden Duale in a past event. He has hit out at critics questioning president Uhuru Kenyatta's cabinet changes. [Photo|nation.co.ke]
Garissa Township MP Aden Duale has hit out at critics questioning President Uhuru Kenyatta's partial cabinet changes made on Friday.Duale says that Uhuru has the constitutional power to choose men and women who he wants to serve in his cabinet.
Speaking to journalists in Garissa on Saturday, the Jubilee MP said that the appointments are made on merit and that critics should keep politics out of the process.
"The president has the power to chose people to serve in his cabinet and such appointments are done based on the constitution," he said.
Duale at the same time said that only new nominees for Cabinet slots will be vetted by the National Assembly.
The Garissa lawmaker stated that Cabinet Secretaries who have been serving in government and have been retained will not be vetted.
"We passed a motion that exempts serving Cabinet Secretaries who are retained for their positions from undergoing vetting," he said on Saturday.
Duale said that the MPs first agenda will be to vet the nominees once they return from recess early next month.
President Kenyatta made partial changes to his cabinet on Friday, retaining only six ministers.
Uhuru retained Dr Fred Matiangi (Interior), James Macharia (Transport), Joe Mucheru (ICT), Najiba Balala (Tourism) and Henry Rotich (Treasury).
President Kenyatta nominated former Turkana senator John Munyes, outgoing Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Keriako Tobiko and former Marsabit Governor Ukur Yattani for Cabinet slots.
The president confirmed that Tobiko had resigned noting that the names have been forwarded to the National Assembly for vetting.
President Kenyatta also made changes to the police department with Ndegwa Muhoro being replaced as the Director of a Criminal InvestigationUhuru's cabinet changes have elicited mixed reactions among Kenyans and leaders with women crying out for being left out.
The president is expected to make more changes as he reorganises his government as he serves his second and final term.
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