Board begins 21-day search for Ringera successor

By Beauttah Omanga

The process of appointing a new director of the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission commenced with the advisory board easing the qualifications.

Board chair Okong’o Omogeni said qualified Kenyans have 21 days to apply starting today. While it was mandatory before that one had to be a judge to be appointed head of KACC, this time round the Omogeni-led team will be looking for anybody with 15 years experience in managerial position in private or public office.

The candidate should, however, possess excellent understanding of the commission’s legal mandate and Kenya’s legal system.

The individual, the board indicated, should be a person of integrity, honesty, with a distinguished service record, besides being courageous and independent-minded person, all desirable attributes for driving the anti-corruption agenda forward.

The board did not mention if one’s past criminal record could bar any individual from applying, a loophole that can give known economic saboteurs a chance to spearhead the body.

Briefing the Press at Integrity Centre Thursday the board officially confirmed Joseph Mutonyi as acting director for the next 45 days as it shops for Ringera’s successor.

Fair exercise

Mr Omogeni said the board would today nominate two senior employees of the commission to act as assistant directors to replace Fatuma Sichale and Smokin Wanjala who also resigned.

"We are will carry out an independent and fair exercise that will give this country the most qualified individuals to replace those who have left," said the chairman.

At the briefing, Mutonyi said all files previously under Ringera’s custody are still intact and safe.

"I would like to assure all Kenyans that Ringera handed over to me all pending files that were under him and no document has so far been tampered with," said Mutonyi.

Ringera resigned yesterday after mounting pressure to do so from MPs, the public and civil society.