Political interference affected KACC operations

By Athman Amran

Politicians interfered with operations of the disbanded Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACC) while the officers were intimidated when some politicians were named in corruption cases.

A former member of the KACC Advisory Board, Ms Naomi Nyambura Wagereka, told the Selection Panel and blamed this on releasing names of key political figures being investigated to the Press before convictions were made.

"There is a need to remove the fight against corruption in the media and do it quietly," Wagereka said when she was interviewed on Wednesday by the Selection Panel for the recruitment of the chairperson and members of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).

Mrs Rose Mambo chairs the nine-member panel, which has interviewed 12 short-listed candidates out of which only three will be selected.

The panel had received 164 applications.

Wagereka, who is the chairperson of the Federation of Women Lawyers said there was need to respect the privacy of the people being investigated.

She added that their identity should only be revealed when there is a strong case against them.

Electronic surveillance

"Privacy of the work we do is key," she said, arguing that the media has an important role to play in the fight against corruption but the role has to be defined as to whether it is sensationalism or informing and educating the public.

She faulted the focus on key figures arguing that corruption has other victims which the media should inform the public.

Wageraka backed electronic surveillance of people, which had been suggested by KACC.

The move was aimed at monitoring phones, e-mails and other forms of communications of some targeted people.

"We are talking of people using advanced methods to commit crime," Wagereka said.

She, however, added that there was need to investigate how serious the case was and how it was affecting the country.

And former KACC Advisory Committee Vice Chairperson Irene Cheptoo Keino faulted payment of high salaries to KACC director and other commissioners.

She said they reduced the salaries by 30 per cent when they were in office and argued that it was unethical for some people to be paid huge salaries while other members of the society are not rewarded likewise.

She, however, said EACC would need more funds to put up offices in all the 47 counties.

"We have put up offices in only four counties. The budget was not enough. We need more," Ms Keino said.

Also interviewed on Wednesday were former National Anti-Corruption Steering Committee Director Polycarp Omolo Ochilo, Mr Chris Galgalo and Ms Mariamu El-Maawy.