Senators warn EACC against political witch-hunts

Senate's Finance & Budget Committee Chair Ali Roba (centre left) Vice Chair Tabitha Mutinda (centre right) during Budget and Finance committee's sensitization session on the recommendations of the Fourth Basis Revenue sharing formula at Senate Chambers, Parliament, Nairobi. May 22nd,2025. [Elvis Ogina, Standard] Senators have cautioned the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) against being used to fight political battles in the country. Senate County Public Accounts Committee members raised concerns over the arrests of various Governors who were taken to EACC headquarters then the matters drag for very long without being concluded. The Senators said they will be summoning the EACC CEO Abdi Mohamud to come and explain to them how they conduct their work since the Commission should be fighting corruption and not be seen to be engaging in some public relations exercise. Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna said that they would like to see all the Governors whose homes have been raided by EACC and taken for questioning to be charged in court and jailed if found guilty for it serve as a lesson to others and not a political weapon to threaten critics. "We all live in Kenya and know what is happening, it is very wrong to raid a private home, ransack it arrest the owner take him to EACC over alleged corruption allegations and the matter drags on for several years without conclusion," said Sifuna. The Nairobi Senator gave the example of Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi, Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya, Marsabit Governor Mahmoud Ali and Turkana Governor Jeremiah Lomurukai who have been arrested by EACC and their matters not concluded. The ODM Secretary General asked EACC to also tell Kenyans the amount of money they should have in their homes because they have seen its officials carting away money they have found in the homes of the Governors they have arrested wondering whether it is wrong to have it. Sifuna said that he was aware that EACC may decide to come for him in his home after criticizing how its officials were doing their work but what mattered most was that they needed to carry out their work without any political influence being an independent body. "We are told for example that Governor Wamatangi was arrested for failing to attend a political meeting where a Senior politician was in Kiambu and they decided to teach him a political lesson by having EACC going for him, this should not be the case," said Sifuna. The Committee Chairperson Moses Kajwang said they were concerned that Marsabit Governor Mahmoud Ali who was before the committee yesterday was arrested by EACC ostensibly over recommendation made by the Senate Committee last year. Kajwang said that while it was not their mandate to advise EACC on how to do its work they were concerned that the Governor was arrested in April last year and he has not been charged in court with the matter still under investigations one year later. The Homa Bay Senator said that the conversation they were having showed that EACC might be used to settle political scores yet it is an independent body that is supposed to deal with corruption cases both in National and County Governments across the country. "EACC should not appear to be doing its work selectively but deal with all corruption cases in government entities fairly, this war should not be weaponized against those perceived not to be supporting the government of the day," said Kajwang. Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua wondered whether EACC arrests someone because they have been told he is corrupt or because they have evidence to show the individual is guilty bearing in mind that EACC stands for ethics which should be espoused in the performance of its work. Wambua wondered whether EACC has considered asking the Governors to submit their documents and summon them instead of using a lot of resources and causing drama while raiding their residences and ending up not achieving the intended goal. Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo said that EACC is an independent body and should act that way and that it is wrong to raid the homes of leaders arrest them and have criminal charges hanging over their heads without bringing them to a closure making the whole exercise a charade. "Kenyans do not understand when someone is arrested over corruption allegations, taken to EACC and then seems to end there, those arrested are deemed to be corrupt yet they have not been proven guilty by a court of law," said Dullo. Nyamira Senator Okongo Omogeni said that even as EACC conducts its work the privacy of citizens must be respected and that it is not excusable to raid someone at home then one year later there is nothing to be seen yet they have been labelled as being corrupt. "If those Governors who have been arrested by EACC and their matters remain hanging travel abroad to meet investors the first thing when someone googles their name is that they have been involved in corruption yet they have not been charged and found guilty," said Omogeni. Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei said the concerns raised are valid since there are incidences EACC has raided counties headquarters taken computers and other documents then after that nothing else is heard of those investigations.

Senators warn EACC against political witch-hunts

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Senators warn EACC against political witch-hunts

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