I will not resign, says EACC Chairman Philip Kinisu over NYS deals

EACC chair Philip Kinisu

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) chair Philip Kinisu Tuesday came out to fight conflict of interest claims after it merged that a company he owns, and run by his wife, was doing business with National Youth Service (NYS) at the time the Sh791million was lost from the agency.

His firm, Esaki Limited, received Sh35 million for a tender it won in February 2014 to supply materials to dig boreholes in Kapenguria at the height of the scam at NYS

Mr Kinisu dismissed claims that the money was part of the Sh791million lost at NYS as 'outrageous' and being propagated by corruption cartels who have been watching his steps keenly.

The chairman who was also fighting claims that another organisation he chaired was being investigated for money laundering defended himself saying the business was legitimate and it happened long before he became chairman.

"The company was established and has lawfully been doing business since 2000 with both government and private sector clients. I have been a director in it since inception until April, 2016 when I ceased to be a director on account of my commitments at EACC," he told reporters at press conference in a Nairobi hotel on Tuesday.

The new EACC chair maintained that he would not resign because that would set a dangerous precedent given that the allegations are 'unsubstantiated'.

This came a day after EACC revealed that an independent team had been formed to investigate the allegations that link him to the NYS scam.

EACC says the decision to investigate Esaki was arrived at on July 11, 2016, during a meeting called after preliminary investigations disclosed that the company had indeed transacted with NYS at a time when it was being investigated over the Sh791 million saga.

But Kinisu described the allegations that weaken his credibility and touch on his ability to impartially lead an agency investigating his family business as a case of 'corruption fighting back.' He becomes the latest chairman of EACC to claim cartels were out to finish him after at least his two other predecessors suffered a similar fate.

He explained that his company responds to tenders, wins business, preforms and is paid for work done.

"All contracts between the company and NYS were won and performed prior to my appointment as chairman of EACC," he said adding that there was no law that prevents a Kenyan citizen or company doing business with a government institution.