The nomination of PLO Lumumba to replace Justice Aaron Ringera as Director-General of the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission has come under fire.

Critics say the lawyer has no experience in fighting graft.

If Parliament and the President give their approval, Dr Lumumba’s appointment would bring to closure the spectacular stand-off that started off with President Kibaki’s re-appointment of Ringera without reference to Parliament or the KACC Advisory Board.

While announcing their nomination of Lumumba on Thursday, the KACC Advisory Board also said they had picked two nominees for the two assistant director positions. They are lawyer Pravin Bowry (Legal Services) and Prof Jane Kerubo Onsongo (Education, Research and Prevention).

Kituo Cha Sheria Director Priscilla Nyokabi and human rights lawyer Harun Ndubi said Lumumba has no known background in the fight against corruption.

"Lumumba has come up strongly on the Constitution but the KACC is a different field," Nyokabi said. "He has integrity but his practice in the anti-corruption field is not clear."

Ndubi says it was difficult to put a finger on what Lumumba has done in fighting corruption and also hinted that he had associated himself with politics through Chama Cha Umma Party. Lumumba unsuccessfuly vied for the Kamukunji seat in the 2007 General Election.

Both argued that it would have been better for the Board to present several names to Parliament for vetting.

"We do not know who the other applicants are. But whatever Parliament does, it has to take into account that those they choose should get the support they need," Ndubi said.

As for Bowry, Ndubi pointed out that the lawyer has been known to defend those mentioned in cases of corruption like in the Goldenberg and Anglo Leasing scams.

"The job requires people who can attract public confidence," Ndubi said.

Both said they do not know Onsongo and, thus, could not comment on her. The nominations of Lumumba, Bowry and Onsongo will now await parliamentary endorsement before they are forwarded to the President for appointment.

Lumumba is expected to fill the position of former Director-General and Chief Executive Aaron Ringera who resigned early last month following pressure from MPs and the public.

Bowry and Onsongo are to replace Dr Smokin Wanjala and Ms Fatuma Sichale who also resigned after Parliament rejected their reappointment for a second five-year term.

Pressure for the three to resign also came from civil society groups, who argued that their reappointment was illegal, as the President did not adhere to the law.

They had pointed out that the advisory board was supposed to conduct interviews before forwarding names of suitable candidates to Parliament for vetting.

"We have recommended the three (Lumumba, Bowry and Onsongo) for endorsement by Parliament and subsequent appointment by the President," KACC Advisory Board chairman Okong’o Omogeni said.

He added: "We want to make a strong appeal to Parliament to consider our recommendations before going on recess on December 17."

The three were selected out of 197 applicants who had responded to an advert placed in the media on October 2.

"The Board short-listed eight candidates for each of the three positions and the interviews were conducted between November 23 and 25," Omogeni said during a press conference at Integrity Centre in Nairobi yesterday.

He said that during the recruitment they were driven by "the pressing need to recruit Kenyans of high integrity and competence who have the experience, courage and determination to fight the war against corruption and restore confidence of the nation on our quest to fight corruption."

"The board is convinced that Dr Lumumba can ably lead KACC in its mandate and has the dynamism and interpersonal skills to rally the country behind him and build a wide consensus and partnership necessary to win the war against corruption," Omogeni added.

At the same time Omogeni said they were prepared for the disbandment of KAAC and change of name to the Integrity and Anti-Corruption Commission. He said the change of name would not affect the commission.

He, however, said they have recommended to the Committee of Experts to give the new commission prosecutorial powers.

"We have given the Committee of Experts examples of some new development in other regions like Sierra Leone where the anti-corruption body has been given prosecutorial powers," Omogeni said.

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