Parliamentary Committee Accuse EACC Of Undermining Its Work

By PSCU

Marsabit Governor Mohamed Ali has told a watchdog committee of the Senate that he is keen to know the reasons for his arrest by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).

Detectives from the anti-graft agency raided the County headquarters in March 2024 and arrested the Governor on allegation of multibillion corruption in the county.

Governor Ali’s office was raided just a week after he had appeared before the Committee.

Other County Bosses who have been summoned to EACC are Governor Kimani Wamatangi (Kiambu) and Governor George Natembeya (Trans Nzoia).

However, more than one year later, the Governor has neither been arraigned nor been told the reason why he was arrested.

The matter became an issue of heated debate when the Governor appeared before the County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) yesterday.

The Committee, which is chaired by Senator Moses Kajwang, sought to know from the Governor why he was arrested and the status of the investigations, wondering how long it will take to conclude investigations, more than a year later.

“We ask because our credibility as a committee is being threatened by lack of action from the EACC,” he told the Committee even as he warned that the Commission had politicised the war on corruption.

“They announce arrests for optics and we would like the EACC to tame its appetite for shouting,” he added, noting that it should only focus on cases that it can win.

Senators Edwin Sifuna, Enock Wambua and Okongo Omogeni wondered how long it takes for EACC to investigate matters.

The Committee resolved to invite the Commission leadership to appear so as to explain the challenges they are facing and which appear to undermine investigations.

“After more than one year, it is only fair that the EACC makes settles this matter and lets the world to know whether the Governor is corrupt,” said Senator Kajwang.

The Governor agreed saying that he found the raid at his office unfair, unprocedural and out of tune with the best practises.

“I am also waiting to know why the EACC did what they did to me.”