Expect fireworks in my 100 days, says Mbarak

Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) CEO Nominee Twalib Abdallah Mbarak is vetted by MPs at Parliament Building.

President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission CEO nominee Twalib Mbarak has pledged to undertake a radical surgery at the troubled institution within his first 100 days in office if appointed.

While admitting that he may not be 100 per cent efficient within the same period, Mbarak said a lot needs to be done and the country may have to wait a little longer for results.

“I do not want to be political,” he told MPs vetting him for the position.

Among his priority areas is to implore a pro-active approach for deterrence, as he plans to push for an upgraded technical system to minimise human interactions during investigations.

For instance, when probing illicit wealth, Mbarak said if the anti-graft agency is linked with the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) and the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) among other entities, the time spent to track suspicious transactions will be reduced from 30 days to 10.

“The audit of the institution’s technical capacity to human capacity is also very vital. If an individual is worth Sh50 million during vetting for employment and within two months is worth billions, this integrated network will assist investigate the overnight riches,” Mbarak said.

“The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has the upgraded technical capacity and works closely with state agencies, which has helped to fast-track their cases.”

He was however frank about his suitability for the job, saying he might not be 100 per cent efficient within the first 100 days in office.

He said he will undertake a staff audit at the institutional to establish human placement and capacity.

“Are the staff in the right position based on qualification?” he posed.

Mbarak said he is worth Sh152 million, and has two houses in Nairobi and Malindi and five acres of land. He said he aspires to make Kenya corruption-free, just like Sweden, New Zealand, Norway and Denmark.

Most corrupt

“The country is ranked among the most corrupt. We must be realistic in dealing with the matter,” he said.

He agreed with the National Assembly Justice and Legal Affairs Committee members that some files are not moving.

“I will take stock of the pending cases. I will connect with the offices of Director Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji and DCI George Kinoti to try and speed up the cases. We seek to tighten few gaps before files are forwarded to the DPP for prosecution,” he said.

He also touched on the public perception of the EACC, which he said must be redeemed.

“EACC is on the receiving end. An institution should be known for high reputation. We must reinvent ourselves by engaging the public and I will lead the way,” he said.