Central MPs dismayed over EACC list of shame

Governor Peter Munya addresses a crowd in Meru town at the weekend, when he blamed political opponents for his inclusion in the EACC graft report. He said he would go to court to have his name expunged from the list. [PHOTO: PHARES MUTEMBEI/STANDARD]

Meru, Kenya: Igembe South legislator Mithika Linturi has questioned President Uhuru Kenyatta’s failure to sign into law the Miscellaneous Amendment Bill 2014, which would have strengthened the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission’s (EACC) ability to fight corruption.

According to Mr Linturi, the bill has amendments to various sections, including the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Act Clause 62, which would have required public officers with executive authority to step down if implicated in corruption.

“I convinced Parliament to include this amendment in the bill to ensure the executives, be they governors or Cabinet secretaries, step aside and allow for investigations,” Linturi said in Othaya.

He explained that the amendment also included a clause to give the chief executive officer of the EACC protection from external interference.

The Miscellaneous Amendment Bill 2014 was passed by Parliament eight months ago but President Uhuru returned it to the House with a memorandum that the amendments would have left room for abuse of office.

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“He should have signed the bill eight months ago but he failed to do so and now it seems things have changed,” Linturi asked.

The MP was speaking at a funds drive in Othaya constituency to raise money to buy a school bus for Iria-ini Girls High School. He also dismissed the President's State of the Nation address as a public relations gimmick.

At the same event, Othaya MP Mary Wambui claimed EACC's decision to release the names of people implicated in corruption was unethical.

“Accusing people of corruption and exposing them to public ridicule without carrying out proper investigations or giving them a chance to be heard is destroying their lives and their reputations,” Ms Wambui said.

Nyeri Woman Rep Pricillah Nyokabi echoed the sentiments and said the only way to fight corruption was to carry out extensive reforms within the EACC.

“Clearly, EACC failure to carry out its mandate is the reason why the President is being forced to deal with corruption himself,” Ms Nyokabi said.

Meanwhile, another MP, Mpuri Aburi (Tigania East), said he would call for public demonstrations to force Governor Peter Munya to step aside pending clearance of corruption allegations.

Speaking in Maua, Aburi urged the governor to show humility by stepping aside as the Cabinet secretaries had done.

But Governor Munya defended himself against corruption allegations and dismissed the EACC report, calling it a tool hatched to fight political opponents.

He claimed a plot had been hatched to fight the Council of Governors, who are agitating for more funds for the devolved units, under the pretext of fighting corruption.

“If my name is not removed, I will go to court to have those who put me on the list explain why,” Munya said.