MPs to forego recess to approve EACC nominees

Parliament is ready to forego its December recess to approve the names of commissioners appointed into to Ethics Anti Corruption Commission (EACC), Kieno MP Kanini Kega has said.

Speaking in his constituency on Monday, Kega said that legislators are willing to hold a special sitting to comply with a 21-day timeline required for them to make a decision on the President’s appointments.

A House committee is also required to conduct an approval hearing and submit a report to the House for consideration before December 15, a time during which the MPs should have adjourned for Christmas

Deputy Speaker Joyce Laboso has directed the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee to immediately notify the nominees of the dates for vetting and also call for public submissions on the suitability of the nominees.

President Uhuru Kenyatta nominated Philip Kinusu to head the anti-graft body while Dabar Abdi Maalim, Paul Mwaniki Gachoka, Sophia Lepuchirit and Rose Mghoi Mtambo Macharia were appointed as commissioners.

The President also nominated Philip K. B. Kinusu as the chair to the commission to replace Mumo Matemu who resigned on May 12^th this year.

In his resignation letter to the President, Matemu said that his action was for the greater good in the fight against corruption.

His resignation left EACC without commissioners since his deputy, Irene Keino and Prof Jane Onsongo had also resigned.

Dabar Abdi Maalim, Paul Mwaniki Gachoka, Sophia Lepuchirit and Rose Mghoi Mtambo Macharia were also nominated as commissioners to the anti-graft body.

The names of the nominees have been forwarded to the National Assembly for consideration and subsequent approval or rejection.

Should the names be approved, Kinusu will be taking over a job that many people have described as one of the most challenging and have seen several former chairs including Justice (Rtd) Aaron Ringera and PLO Lumumba kicked out under controversial circumstances.