DPP Haji: I will update public on corruption cases under probe

Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji when he presented his office’s budget proposal before the National Assembly Justice and Legal Affairs Committee last month. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji has acknowledged investigations on projects under some cabinet secretaries are underway.

He, however, warned the media and the public from passing early judgements on the suspects, which could compromise the integrity of the investigations.

Haji yesterday pledged he will regularly update the public on the progress of investigations on various cases.

He said he will not release information clandestinely to the media, and instead asked for caution from the Press when reporting such issues.

He was reacting to reports that at least four cabinet secretaries are under the watch of the multi-agency team handling corruption cases, over claims that they have established pseudo companies, which they irregularly award tenders in their ministries.

“In these particular cases, the investigations are ongoing and once the file is complete and forwarded for direction, the DPP shall communicate his decision,” Haji said.

“Trial by media and the public is not a recognised principle by the Constitution and leads to obstruction of justice, intimidation, threat and compromise of witness, evidence, criminal justice officers and compromises integrity of investigations.”

The DPP added that he went alone to Italy on a fact-finding mission and none of the officials from the multi-agency team accompanied him.

The multi-agency team is comprised of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, the office of Attorney General, The DPP, The Directorate Criminal Investigations and the Assets Recovery Agency.

The trip to Italy was triggered by the probe surrounding CMC di Rivera, an Italian company constructing the Arror dam in Marakwet West constituency at Sh38.5 billion.

The probe was triggered by a letter from Italy to President Uhuru Kenyatta saying the company had difficulties in continuing with the project.

It was then that the president demanded to know what had happened.

The Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU) that documents all major projects has no details of the Sh63 billion Arror and Kimwarer multi-purpose dam projects documented.

“As PDU, we only track ongoing projects. These two have not started. The delivery unit deals with ongoing and completed projects,” said PDU secretary Andrew Wakahiu.

The Editor notes the DPP’s concerns and can confirm that neither his office nor himself were the source of the information. His picture was, however, used in the story because he is the one who had travelled to Italy