Lydia Nzomo cleared of graft allegations

By Juma Kwayera

Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development has denied allegations that its chief executive was involved in malpractices.

Reacting yesterday to allegations by the office of the Ombudsman, KICD Council chairman Peter Erastus Kinyanjui cleared Dr Lydia Nzomo—the institute’s director—of allegations of impropriety,  abuse of power and nepotism.

The Ombudsman’s Office, also known as Commission on Administrative Justice, has in its report, leaked to the media last week, accused  Nzomo of mismanagement, financial impropriety and nepotism, allegations the KICD boss denies.

Instead, the council accuses the ombudsman of “malice and witch hunt. KICD demanded an amendment of the report to “portray the true and accurate position of issues addressed in the report.”

Dr Nzomo is among candidates that have applied for the head the Teachers’ Service Commission (TSC).

“The Council noted that your investigation cleared the director (Nzomo) of the 17 out of the 18 allegations labelled against her….. It did not escape the attention of the council of KICD that the entire CAJ report that was meant to be confidential was released to the media. The council can only assume that this was done from CAJ because other than the KICD council it is only CAJ that has the report,” Prof Kinyanjui says in his response to CAJ chaired by Otiende Amolo.

In its investigations, CAJ alleged that Ms Nzomo used her position to award Mombasa Beach Hotel the tender to host the 2006 Book Evaluation Team.