Members of the National Assembly have approved the appointment of Geoffrey Ruku and Hanna Cheptumo as Public Service, Human Capital Development & Special Programmes, and Gender, Culture, the Arts, and Heritage Cabinet Secretaries, respectively.
National Assembly Majority Leader and Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wah on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, moved a motion on the consideration of the two for appointment as Cabinet Secretaries.
The motion was seconded by National Assembly Minority Leader and Suna East MP Junet Mohamed, opening the floor for debate.
Cheptumo scrutinised
Several lawmakers raised questions about the suitability of Cheptumo following the remarks she had made before the Parliamentary Committee on Appointments during her vetting.
Cheptumo had linked the rising cases of femicide in Kenya to women’s financial dependency on men.
Appearing before Parliament for her vetting on Monday, April 14, 2025, Cheptumo said that one of her main goals, if appointed, would be to improve women’s financial freedom as a way of tackling the crisis.
Cheptumo, who was picked by President William Ruto for the role, told lawmakers that, in her view, many women find themselves in dangerous situations due to economic dependence. According to her, with better access to education and financial opportunities, women would be less vulnerable to harmful relationships.
“I see a lot of it is because of dependency. If girls could have economic power, they would not depend on the other gender. Sometimes they are in situations where they are exposed because they are trying to get an alternative source of income,” she said.
“Coming to Ms Hannah Wendot, if you asked me, the minister for gender should be made a man because gender cuts across. And I think a man would have served the interests of women better than women themselves. He would have made sure that gender parity was mainstreamed in this country. It looks like women are given the opportunity to deal with their matters, but they don’t take it seriously,” Junet said.
National Assembly Deputy Speaker Gladys Boss Shollei, on her part, said that Cheptumo’s statement was unfortunate and that she should apologise.
“As much as I agree with the leader of the majority on the professionalism of Hanna Wendot Cheptumo, I still think that the statement she made was unfortunate and was completely politically incorrect, and she must apologise,” she said.
MPs defend Cheptumo
However, Kitui South MP Rachael Nyamai asked the lawmakers to have confidence in Cheptumo despite her remarks, arguing that she might have made the statement out of the pressure that comes when one faces the committee for vetting.
“For the statements that are being mentioned, I must say that Ms Hanna Cheptumo is not that way. Sitting on that hot seat is not easy, and someone can have a slip of the tongue. She is going to defend those girls that we are talking about and the children. I ask the house to have confidence in her,” Nyamai said.
Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo asked the National Assembly to approve Cheptumo’s nomination, arguing that the house had previously rejected the CS nominees to the ministry three times.
“It is unfortunate that this is the ministry that three times we have actually rejected the CSs in a very short time. And since July, it has been without a substantive CS. The challenge goes back to the appointing authority: we need to take this ministry seriously and not just use it as a means of filling up slots. I am not saying that this woman is incompetent; she’s actually very competent as a lawyer, but when we want to give somebody some added responsibility, we need to think more seriously about that. Otherwise she’s apologised; let her also learn,” Odhiambo said.
Following their approval, their names will now be forwarded to President William Ruto for their appointment and subsequent swearing in.