MPs want EACC officials to resign for clearing former Devolution CS Anne Waiguru

Former Devolution Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru

Two Members of Parliament want senior officials of the Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission (EACC) to resign for clearing former Devolution Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru of corruption.

Nandi Hills MP, Alfred Keter and his Homa Bay counterpart, Peter Kaluma said that CEO Halakhe Waqo and his investigations team should take responsibility for 'botched' investigations into the Sh791 National Youth Service (NYS) scandal.

They want the recently appointed EACC commissioners to remove the officials, failure to which parliament will trigger a process to remove them.

"The CEO, his deputy, and the entire investigations directorate must resign or be removed from office for this brazen attempt at cover up of open theft.

"The new EACC commissioners have 60 days to remove these individuals from integrity Centre or face action from parliament," the MPs said in their statement.

The calls come in the wake of confessions by Christine Kabura, one of people charged with involvement in the scam that she was part of a 'cartel' that benefitted from the NYS loot. An affidavit she filed in court claimed Ms. Waiguru was at the heart of the scandal.

Keter and Kaluma also asked the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Keriako Tobiko to withdraw charges against people facing criminal charges over the scam, in which several companies were awarded  tenders under questionable circumstances.

The MPs said that those charged were scapegoats and the real culprits are walking free in the streets. Among those charged are former NYS director Nelson Githinji and Devolution Principal Secretary, Peter Mang'iti.

"The DPP must withdraw criminal cases facing those public servants taken to court as scapegoats and direct thorough and proper investigations into this scandal. Kenya has become a country where the innocent are hauled to court while the guilty go scot free," said Keter.

"Kabura cannot be mad to make all those allegations. We cannot destroy people's careers to save one individual. The EACC must move with speed and vet all the staff. A lot of our budget money is lost through corruption and exaggerated deals," added Mr Kaluma.

Kaluma said that the head of Anti-Banking Fraud Unit, Joseph Mugwanja who was also implicated in the cover up should resign.

According to the lawmakers, Ms. Waiguru owes Kenyans an apology over the loss of the money. They also asked President Uhuru Kenyatta to apologise over his statements when the graft allegations first came to light.

"All those jubilee leaders who defended the former CS must apologise to Kenyans. We have not forgotten the effort the state and the presidency engaged in to protect Waiguru and the subsequent efforts at cover up; press releases; arrests and charging of innocent public savants and cover up efforts by EACC, CID and DPP," the MPs said in their statement.