House team against EACC officers firing

Fresh details indicate that the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee of the National Assembly is opposed to the plan to sack two commissioners from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission.

MPs who sit in the committee confirmed to The Standard that the committee, which is prosecuting the motion, has already rejected the petition because it does not meet the constitutional threshold of removing officers from an independent office.

The lawmakers, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not allowed to discuss a committee report in public, said they had already made a recommendation to dismiss the petition against EACC Chairman Mumo Matemu and his Deputy Irene Keino.

"When you see an anti-corruption team that is being fought by the Executive because of fighting corruption, you should know they are the best people to do the job. It means they are doing something right and that is why everyone in power wants them kicked out," said the MP.

Thursday, three committee members confided in The Standard they have been under pressure from State House and the Office of the President to send the commissioners home.

In their findings, the MPs said the commission was somewhat dysfunctional because the secretariat and the commissioners can't work together.

The committee was on Wednesday given an extension of ten days to compile its report.