Parliament Recommends Investigation of EACC Chair, Deputy

Parliament Recommends Investigation of EACC Chair, Deputy

The onus is now with President Uhuru Kenyatta to appoint the probe team for the two whose tenure at the EACC has ironically been mired by claims of corruption and questionable integrity including the fraudulent sale of the commission’s offices.

Article 251 of the Constitution of Kenya 2010 provides for the removal of a commissioner of the EACC for gross misconduct or violation of chapter six of the constitution, by way of a petition to the National Assembly, which then considers the petition and sends it to the President. 

The President, in accordance with article 251 (4) either; (a) may suspend the member or office holder pending the outcome of the complaint, and (b) shall appoint a tribunal. 

The heated debate on Wednesday afternoon saw Parliament approve the report of the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee on the removal of EACC chair Mumo Matemu and his deputy Irene Keino with a 130 to 52 vote.

 

Receive half salary and benefits

The tribunal has 30 days to investigate and make binding recommendations to the President on the fate of the two commissioners.

Matemu and Keino now stand suspended pending the determination of the tribunal.

The two are, however, entitled to continue to receive half of the salary and benefits of the office while under suspension.

Should Matemu be removed from office, he will become the fourth chairperson to exit in the EACC’s revolving doors following John Harun Mwau who served under the Kenya Anti Corruption Commission from December 1997 – to May 1998, Aaron Ringera who was appointed by former President Daniel Moi in 1999 but took office in 2004 after numerous court battles and P.L.O Lumumba who served from September 2010 until KACC was disbanded by Parliament in August 2011.

Matemu took office in May 2012

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