Ringera: Kibaki now put on notice

President Kibaki has 60 days to revoke the reappointment of Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission director Aaron Ringera and his two deputies.

If he does not, MPs will punish Justice minister Mutula Kilonzo or cut funding for KACC. The House Committee on Implementation on Sunday said the President has 60 days to act on MPs’ decision that his KACC appointments are against the law.

“It is the House that will make a decision to ensure the rule of law is followed without victimising any side,” committee chairman Jamleck Kamau said by phone.

Block funding

He said the committee will take a decision whether to name the minister under whose docket the anti-corruption agency falls, bar him from debate or block funding for the commission.

KACC is in the Ministry of Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs and Mr Kilonzo has said Mr Ringera will not be removed from his position. The job of the implementation committee is to look at resolutions of Parliament, including the reports adopted, petitions and promises made by the government on the floor, to ensure that they are carried out.

On Sunday, Mr Kamau said the wishes of Parliament must be respected, adding that the Standing Orders require his committee to act on resolutions within 60 days.

Committees

Other members of Mr Kamau’s committee are MPs John Olago Aluoch, Gitobu Imanyara, Ababu Namwamba, Julius Kones, Amina Abdalla, Barnabas Muturi Mwangi, Kiema Kilonzo, Njoroge Baiya and Fahim Twaha.

Two parliamentary committees —that on Delegated Legislation and on Administration of Justice and Legal Affairs — said the President did not follow the law.

The law stipulates that KACC’s advisory board come up with names of people to be appointed for approval by Parliament before the President names them.

Nominated MP Sam Nyamweya, who is also PNU’s vice-chairman, said the Judiciary should now determine whether the President was right in making the appointments.

Mr Nyamweya said some people who were now saying Mr Justice Ringera did not prosecute anybody were the same ones who helped defeat amendments in Parliament to give KACC powers to prosecute. “They keep changing positions every second depending on whom they want to please,” he said.

Meanwhile, pressure continued for Justice Ringera and his deputy Fatuma Sichale to follow the example of Dr Smokin Wanjala and quit. An advisory board member of the commission said they expect to meet with Mr Ringera and Ms Sichale on Tuesday to urge them to resign.

“As an advisory body we want to let them know that KACC is bigger than an individual. They should respect Parliament and avoid putting KACC into a crisis,” the official, who asked not to be named because he is not authorised to speak for the board, said.