Efforts by parliament to send home top officials in graft body were thwarted yesterday after President Uhuru Kenyatta rejected the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2015.
In July this year, MPs passed the Bill which among other proposals sought to have EACC CEO Halakhe Waqo and his deputy Michael Mubea sent home.

Instead, the Head of State returned the Bill to the National Assembly citing the legal provision to accord the two fair administrative action, suggesting that they undergo fresh vetting after the recruitment of new commissioners.

The two were currently working on corruption cases involving suspended Cabinet secretaries, principal secretaries, governors and MPs whose names appear in a report handed over to the body by the president.

APPOINTMENT MODE

The President however upheld the MPs’ resolve that the Public Service Commission (PSC) be given the powers to carry out appointments instead of the current recruitment panel.

Uhuru however proposed that following a vacancy in the EACC, PSC to within 14 days, advertise, interview and shortlist three qualified individuals and forward their names to the president for appointment.

In their amendments, MPs had proposed that PSC just shortlists without advertising and had not given a timeline.