Ringera bows out of KACC job

• Deputy director Ms Fatuma Sichale also resigns.

• The KACC advisory board is now free to advertise for the three vacant positions.

The director of the Kenya Anti Corruption Commission Justice Aaron Ringera has finally left office.

The besieged KACC boss resigned Wednesday following relentless pressure from the body’s advisory board, civil society, politicians and Kenyans to have him step aside.

Mr Ringera communicated his decision to KACC staff during a brief meeting, after which he addressed a news conference.

At the news conference, he read a statement that said, in part,: "My reappointment as the director of the Kenya Anti Corruption Commission and that of the two assistant directors has raised a national storm and led to a Parliamentary debate hitherto unwitnessed in our country.

"The deputy director and I have considered all the happenings and have come to the conclusion that it is in the best interest of Kenya, the Kenya Anti Corruption Commission as an institution, staff as well as in the best interest of us as individuals and our families to exit from the leadership of the Commission."

Mr Ringera quoted the bible, specifically Ecclesiastes Chapter 3: "There is time for everything....time to be born, time to die, to embrace and refrain....."

"And I would personally add," said Mr Ringera, "There is a time to hold office, and a time to leave office."

The deputy director in charge of legal services, Ms Fatuma Sichale, has also resigned joining fellow deputy Dr Smokin Wanjala, who quit two weeks ago.

The KACC advisory board is now free to advertise for the three positions.

Mr Ringera defended his record at the helm of the anti-graft body, enumerating cases recommended for prosecution.

"To date, the commission has investigated and recommended for prosecution 8 ministers, 4 Members of Parliament, 11 Permanent Secretaries, 65 directors and Chief Executive Officers of public institutions and 96 other senior level management officers of public bodies."

He added that his work and that of his two deputies was beyond reproach.

"In all that we have done, we have discharged our mandate with integrity, courage, complete independence, and outmost professionalism," said Mr Ringera.

"We have given the fight against corruption our all. As we bow out, we do with our heads high."

Since Parliament declared his reappointment by President Kibaki illegal three weeks ago, Mr Ringera has defied calls for his resignation until now, even telling off the board when challenged to quit.

He said that only the courts can remove him from office and refused to release funds to place an advertisement for the director’s post saying there was “no vacancy.”

The House, acting on the recommendations of two committees- Delegated Legislation and Administration, Justice and Legal Affairs- nullified his reappointment for a further five-year term after finding President Kibaki erred in law in renewing his contract.

The President reappointed Justice Ringera without reference to the KACC Advisory Board or Parliament, a move termed illegal by the two institutions.

The board is supposed to shortlist candidates, send them to Parliament for vetting before they are forwarded to the President for appointment.

Last week, Mr Ringera met the Chief Justice and the President amid reports that he was being prepared to return to the judiciary as an appellate judge even as his options and those offering their backing reduced.

Indeed, a source close to the presidency said that Ringera’s chances of staying on were “close to none” signalling that State House was distancing itself from the man.

Dr Smokin Wanjala, who until his resignation two weeks ago was the commission’s deputy director, left his post just days after Parliament nullified a gazette notice containing Ringera’s reappointment and those of his two deputies.

Following Justice Ringera’s refusal to quit, a section of MPs had wanted the House reconvened for them to cut funding to KACC.

A draft Bill, which if passed could see the dissolution of the KACC, is also being prepared by Kisumu Town West MP Olago Aluoch.

NGOs on Tuesday resolved to raise funds to advertise the positions of KACC director and two assistants if Mr Justice Ringera does not okay it by Friday.