MPs Rejects Ruto’s Nomination Again.

MPs again in totality reject President Ruto’s nomination of Phyllis Wambui Wagacha to SRC because of old age.

Members of Parliament on Tuesday, July 4, rejected the appointment of Phyllis Wambui Wagacha as a member of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission(SRC) owing to her age.

Following the recommendations of the Departmental Committee on Labour, the lawmakers rejected Wagacha’s candidacy entirely in a special motion brought before the House by Runyenjes MP Karemba Muchangi.

According to the committee’s report, the 75-year-old was older than the 63-year-old upper age limit for employees.

“Taking into consideration the findings of the Departmental Committee on Labour in its report on the vetting of a nominee for the appointment as a member of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission, laid on the Table of the House on Tuesday, June 27, 2023 … this House rejects the appointment of Dr. Phyllis Wambui Wagacha as a member of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission,” read part of the directive.

Muchangi claimed that the report took four important factors into account when evaluating Wagacha’s nomination.

Since the nominee is a Kanyan citizen and does not have a second citizenship, the committee determined that she is qualified for appointment to a state post.

The nominee also complied with the Constitution’s Chapter Six obligation of upholding leadership and integrity.

The committee also noted that Wagacha had never served in a political party post or been removed from office in accordance with article 75 of the Constitution.

Her knowledge and competence about current SRC administrative, technological, and topical topics were also uncontested.

Alluding to this, the MPs advocated for Wagacha to be enrolled as a consultant and not a permanent position.

The recruitment report from the Public Service Commission (PSC) indicated that Wagacha was nominated following a list narrowed from a field of 261 persons.

On May 23, 2023, Ruto nominated Wagacha for the role following the recommendation by the PSC which had two candidates for the post.

Her nomination elicited an uproar as critics faulted the president for reneging on his word on prioritizing the youth for plum positions.

Further, they accused Ruto of doublespeak for criticizing his predecessor’s regime over recycling old faces in Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration.