Isiolo county secretary in court to stop Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission from probing him

Isiolo County Secretary Ibrahim Wako has gone to court seeking orders to stop the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) from investigating him.

Mr Wako accused EACC of harassing him and sending officers to raid his office despite complying with summons.

The county secretary further wants the court to restrain the commission from carrying away files from his office and interfering with his duties.

In the application filed at the High Court registry, Wako wants the court to declare a directive by EACC and its Chief Executive Halakhe Waqo as illegal and unconstitutional.

EACC has been investigating the county secretary over allegations of manipulation of the county's payroll which led to embezzlement of funds.

He is also under investigations over irregular nomination, appointment and promotion of certain people to public offices.

Through the suit filed by his lawyer George Kithi, Wako also wants the court to stop EACC from forcibly removing him from office, and to issue the court with justification for the continued investigations.

Wako is aggrieved by Waqo's decision to direct the Isiolo Governor to suspend him pending investigations.

He was among the group of public officers named in a report by the EACC that was presented to Parliament by President Uhuru Kenyatta in March.

"EACC can no longer be said to be impartial as an independent commission since it is purporting to implement directives of the executive in blatant and open disregard of the law," said Wako. He maintained that his recommended suspension is impartial and unconstitutional.