EACC chiefs differ before House team

EACC Chairman Philip Kinisu

The bad working relationship between officers of the anti-graft agency came to the fore before MPs, Thursday.

The senior officials of the Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission (EACC) washed their dirty linen before a National Assembly committee, drawing a warning that the anti-graft agency risks losing the confidence of the public.

Commission Chairman Philip Kinisu, Chief Executive Officer Halakhe Waqo and deputy CEO, Michael Mubea, accused each other of insubordination, backstabbing and strained working relationships between the secretariat and the commission to the amusement of the MPs.

"We had general discussions on issue that are of concern to the commission and the secretariat. Their working relationship rests with them and we expect them to resolve the matters affecting them," said Justice Committee Chairman Samuel Chepkonga (Ainabkoi) at the end of the three hour meeting.

Bad blood between the commission and the secretariat arose following calls by some members of the commission that Mr Kinisu be investigated over conflict of interest.

The accusations arose out of revelations that a company associated with Kinisu, Esaki Ltd, was doing business with the scandal ridden, National Youth Service (NYS).

At the meeting, Kinisu is said to have accused Mr Mubea of setting up other commissioners against him and seeking his exit despite having resigned from the company years ago.

Mubea claimed that Kinisu does not recognise him as deputy CEO.