EACC boss not up to task in Sh791m probe, says lobby

North Eastern Youth Association Chairman Ahmed Sharmarke Mohamed, Vision 2030 Youth Entrepreneur Associates Edward Githonga (centre) and Paul Njuguna address journalists in Nairobi yesterday. The youth demanded a thorough audit of the Youth Enterprise Development Fund over corruption allegations and an overhaul of its leadership. [PHOTO: EDWARD KIPLIMO/ sTAnDARD

NAIROBI: A civil society group has claimed that anti-corruption boss Halakhe Waqo is the stumbling block in the National Youth Service investigation.

National Civil Society Congress (NCSC) yesterday said both the secretariats led by the Ethics and Antic-Corruption Commission (EACC) chief executive officer and commissioners have no capacity to unravel the truth on the Sh791 million NYS saga. “What has Mr Waqo ever done since getting into office? The Chickengate scandal, mileage allowances for MPs and now the NYS, and no one has been held responsible. He leads shallow investigations just for the truth to be uncovered later,” said NCSC President Morris Odhiambo.

Mr Odhiambo said the decision that EACC commissioners work part-time had contributed to inefficiency of the anti-graft agency. “The best they do is show up for meetings but they have no authority,” he said.

The organisation called on businesswoman Josephine Kabura Irungu not to honour Waqo’s summons to appear before EACC tomorrow for questioning over an explosive affidavit. “If Ms Irungu has anything else to say, let her speak to EACC Chair Philip Kinisu together with commissioners. Waqo will just use the information to make the whole investigation vanish,” he said. Irungu was scheduled to appear before EACC last Thursday but failed to honour the summons, with her lawyer stating she was unwell. Odhiambo also said it is high time Ms Kabura is given protection.