NAIROBI: State House says there is a petition to disband Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission over its leadership.

 

Spokesman Manoah Espisu said a petition had been sent to the president on the leadership failure in the fight against corruption and it is being considered.

“I can confirm to you there is a petition so far sent to the president regarding the entire leadership of the commission and it is being looked into,” said Espisu without elaborating.

He was responding to a question regarding the leadership squabbles between the commissioners and the secretariat.

Espisu said State House will not meddle into the leadership problems at the commission as it is independent. He did not elaborate the source of the petition and contents.

This emerged after the commission CEO Halakhe Waqo reinstated his deputy Michael Mubea after he had been suspended by the chairman Mumo Matemu.

There was confusion at the commission when Waqo revoked the suspension of his deputy Michael Mubea hours after Matemu sent him on forced leave.

READ: Confusion as EACC Chief Executive Officer Halakhe Waqo revokes Mubea suspension

Matemu had sent Mubea on leave for 30 days on Monday evening over integrity issues.

But on Tuesday Waqo said the 30 days suspension on allegations of integrity issues is already adverse and damaging to Mubea’s reputation.

Waqo said Matemu did not consult him or the Human Resource Management office before taking action against Mubea.

“By a copy of this letter, I am directing the officer to report on duty and continue with his work,” said Waqo.

Many online expressed anger on the development saying the wars there were affecting fight against corruption.

The move was a culmination of a dispute and tension that have been building up between the commission and EACC secretariat, which Mubea has been heading.

Mubea is in charge of the entire operations of the Commission, which includes the directorates of investigations, prevention, and legal services.

Insiders said the secretariat has been operating in isolation making unilateral decisions without the knowledge of the commissioners.

There were also claims files whose cases had been reported to the commission were not acted upon by the secretariat that is in charge of investigations.

There have been numerous complaints from Kenyans that corruption files are intentionally being delayed.

Mubea joined the commission in 2013 as the deputy CEO to Waqo and prior to joining the EACC, he was a Managing Partner at Michael Daud & Associates Advocates in Nairobi, and at Wetangula, Adan, Makokha & Co. Advocates between 2008 and 2011.

At the weekend, EACC vice Chair Irene Keino said the commission had introduced a system of monitoring progress of files whose cases have been reported to them.

All staff including those in regional offices were given until Monday to give status of cases they are handling.