Puzzle over gun attack at office of new EACC boss Philip Kinisu

The hole made by A bullet at Philip Kinisu’s private office on Kose Heights building along Argwings Kodhek Road in Nairobi (PHOTO: JONAH ONYANGO/ STANDARD)

Nairobi: Police are investigating an attack on an office block owned by the anti-corruption agency boss after a bullet was discovered inside.

Five different special crimes teams have visited Philip Kinisu’s private office at Kose Heights along Argwings Kodhek Avenue since the discovery on Thursday last week.

Japheth Masinde, the supervisor of a security firm guarding the building, said he came across a shattered window on the fifth floor during a routine check and informed the caretaker.

“The caretaker thought it was caused by a stone that had been hurled here. But when you look around you don't see a taller building than this one given the location where the damage occurred," said Masinde.

A guard at the house said they discovered the damage on the window on February 22, three days after Kinisu held his first press conference to outline the commission's agenda. The guard, however, thought the damage was caused by a stone.

It took a potential tenant who was being shown around to point out that the damage could have been caused by a bullet or something powerful, said Masinde.

"The caretaker had taken some people there who wanted to see the affected room before occupation when one of them said the damage was not caused by a stone as claimed. The caretaker had planned to call for repairs," said Masinde.

In the process, they stumbled on a bullet head inside the room. It had pierced through the glass, hit and ricocheted off a wall to a nearby pillar. They informed Kinisu, who was at the EACC office, and he asked them to report the matter to Kilimani Police Station immediately. Kinisu is the only occupant of the six-storey building for now and he has contracted an agency to shop for more tenants.

Investigators say the bullet was fired from a high calibre weapon like a G3 although they are yet to establish a possible motive of the attack. Police recovered a bullet head from the scene and are trying to establish the source.

Nairobi head of Directorate of Criminal Investigations Nicholas Kamwende said investigations are ongoing.

"It seems a high calibre weapon was used but we can't tell by who and what the motive was for now," Kamwende said.

The building is about 200m from the Department of Defence headquarters and Kilimani Police Station. Officials there and neighbours said they never heard any gunshot in the past week. Kose Heights is the tallest building around and other buildings of similar height are about 500m away along Jabavu Road.

Kinisu's auditing firm occupies the sixth floor and he has been operating from there since November, long before he was appointed the Chairman of EACC.

Attack’s timing

According to the officials, he still visits the office although briefly. The investigation has assumed a higher profile not only because the premises exclusively houses the anti-graft boss' private offices but also due to the timing of the attack.

It took place just days after Kinisu gave his first public statement on how the team of new commissioners at the EACC will execute the fight against corruption.

"Different units of police and officials from the EACC have been coming here to assess the damage and get more information. We are still waiting," said Masinde.

He added that Kinisu also visited the scene on Thursday and Saturday.

"He is eager to know who was behind this. He has told me that, and I hope police catch the people behind it to know the motive because you know his new job is not a joke."

Kinisu did not respond to our calls and text inquiries Sunday.

The incident has provided fodder for speculation amid claims that the attack might be a message to Kinisu to go slow in his campaign against corruption. It comes in the wake of reports that the four new commissioners at EACC are unhappy that they are sharing one office.

The new law says they are supposed to work on part-time basis, a move expected to lessen conflicts that have been witnessed between the commission and the secretariat. The four commissioners are Mr Dabar Abdi Maalim, Mr Paul Mwaniki Gachoka, Ms Sophia Lepuchirit and Ms Rose Mghoi Mtambo Macharia.

When he held his first press conference, Kinisu said all EACC staff will be vetted afresh as per the law and that all cases handled by the commission will be reviewed.

He noted that the commission had suffered negative public perception and was seen as being largely biased, adding that the new team was working out a strategy to crackdown on wanton corruption.