The National Assembly has disowned a viral letter circulating online falsely claiming it has sought the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission’s (EACC) background review of four politicians purportedly nominated as Cabinet Secretaries in President William Ruto’s government.
The document listed Nyandarua Senator John Methu, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, Samburu West MP Naisula Lesuuda, and KANU Chairman Gideon Moi as the alleged nominees.
It further claimed that their vetting would be completed by November 6 to pave the way for their formal appointment.
The fake document even bore a forged stamp and a signature purported to be that of the Clerk of the National Assembly, giving it a deceptive sense of authenticity.
However, the National Assembly later dismissed the document as false and misleading. “This document is not from the National Assembly or Parliament of Kenya. It is fake. Kindly disregard it,” clarified the Clerk of the National Assembly.
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Under Kenya’s Constitution, Parliament is mandated to vet Cabinet nominees before their approval, a process that typically involves integrity checks by independent agencies such as the EACC and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). However, no such vetting request has been made regarding the individuals named in the fake letter.
The document surfaced just days after the ODM party held its first press conference following the death of its former leader, Raila Odinga. During the briefing, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna read a statement on behalf of the ODM leadership, reaffirming the party’s continued participation in the broad-based government arrangement.
“We reiterate the party's commitment to the broad-based government until 2027, a relationship guided by the 10-point agenda entered into for the sake of peace and stability of the country,” Sifuna said.
Also featured on the fake list was KANU Chairman Gideon Moi, who had recently met President William Ruto and announced that his party would cooperate with the government.
“We’ve elected to pursue the path of unity and shared purpose at this crucial point in our nation. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the people of Baringo for their support and for granting us a chance to move beyond our differences and build a cohesive and prosperous nation,” Moi stated after hosting Ruto in Kabarak.
President Ruto later confirmed the collaboration, saying, “Attended a KANU grassroots meeting in Kabarak, Nakuru County, where the party agreed to work with Kenya Kwanza under the broad-based government. Glad that KANU, under the leadership of Chairman Gideon Moi, will work with us to address the challenges facing our country.”
The developments fuelled speculation of a possible Cabinet reshuffle to accommodate Moi and his allies, including Naisula Lesuuda.
