EACC TO DECIDE FATE OF TOP OFFICIALS IN A FORTNIGHT

EACC TO DECIDE FATE OF TOP OFFICIALS IN A FORTNIGHT

NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 20 – Elected officials and State officers being investigated by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) will in the next two weeks know their fate after the commission completes its investigations.

EACC Chairman Mumo Matemu says 93 cases of the 175 have been covered with 16 already before court while 15 others are under review by the Director of Public Prosecutions technical team and are expected to be forwarded to court soon.

“The CSs and PSs who were included in the list have all been interviewed, but we need to now finish the investigations. We therefore expect plus or minus a few days to be able to abide by the timelines,” said Matemu.

“The DPP gives directions on the case. Sixteen cases which we have forwarded to him are already in court,” Matemu emphasised.

While issuing the status update, Matemu said they intended to expedite the investigations as soon as possible to ensure justice is served.

“We have resolved that officers who have been mentioned will be given their rights to privacy. Justice on the investigations side will not be denied to the persons concerned,” he added.

The embattled chairman who was accompanied by his vice chairperson Irene Keino – both of whom are facing possible removal from office – said although the process has been smooth, the challenges they have faced were limited to the disclosure of the substance of their investigations by the individuals being probed.

He complained that after the appearance of the persons being investigated, they would address the press despite the sessions being held on account of confidentiality.

“We have told them that whatever is being said needs to be held confidentiality… they agree but soon after the interview we see them saying other things. We have however held the confidentiality on our side,” he stated.

He went on to deny media reports that his life was in danger, saying the recent incident where his car was hit by van was an accident.

Police are investigating the matter.

The commission has in the past week been collecting statements from individuals named in the EACC confidential report with most declaring their innocence over the allegations, maintain that it was witch-hunt.

Already all the State officers named in the report have been suspended. Only Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko stepped aside among politicians named in the report.