Attempts to force Ouko out of office reek of malice

The manner in which Auditor General Edward Ouko's case with regard to corruption allegations has been handled is suspicious.

It is not in doubt that Mr Ouko has given the political and business elite sleepless nights by uncovering massive corruption scandals.

His position has seen his office come under siege from an Executive seeking to clip its independence. From starving the office of funds to limiting the scope of its jurisdiction, the Executive has been restless.

The independence of Ouko's office has been compromised by allowing the Public Service Commission to hire its staff.

Mr Ouko himself has become the target of what looks increasingly like a smear campaign through a lawyer representing a ghost whistle blower in a petition to the National Assembly Committee on Finance and Trade, asking to have Ouko investigated for corruption in his office.

The manner in which the Speaker of the National Assembly cleared the petition in record time tells a lot.

The Director of Public Prosecutions also complained that he was under pressure from forces in Government to investigate Mr Ouko even when he had ruled that there were no grounds to do so.

The silence from some quarters is equally disturbing.

The country has 18 constitutional offices and it is surprising that none of them have publicly or consistently commented on the manner in which the Auditor General is being pursued.

The chief legal advisor of the Government, the Attorney General, has also been quiet even after the High Court issued desist orders to the National Assembly.

The matter has even taken a political direction with Opposition MPs publicly backing Ouko and Jubilee legislators ganging up against him.

The independence of this probe will always be in doubt.

And this is probably why the High Court halted the quasi-judicial proceedings by the Finance committee.

Should it therefore be established that the harassment and targeting of Mr Ouko is being orchestrated to stop him from exposing the massive rot in Government, then we as a nation are heading in the wrong direction.

The National Assembly must demonstrate that it respects the independence of constitutional offices and refuse to be misused by those seeking selfish gains.