Now High Court blocks Matemu
A court has blocked the appointment of Mumo Matemu as the chairman of Kenya's anti-graft agency. May 15, 2012. FILE
A court has blocked the appointment of Mumo Matemu as the chairman of Kenya's anti-graft agency.
The High Court in Nakuru Wednesday issued orders suspending Mr Matemu's appointment to head the Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission (EACC) pending determination of a case filed by a human rights group.
In a gazette notice, the President also named Prof Jane Onsongo and Irene Keino as members of the anti graft body.
In its petition, the Trusted Society of Human Rights Alliance said the process of appointing Mr Matemu was illegal and unconstitutional.
"The process was a coup of the Constitution as it was devoid of consultations and democracy and therefore a disrespect of the Kenyan people," the lobby said.
The group asked the court to find that their petition raised issues requiring an interpretation of the Constitution and refer the case to the Chief Justice for directions.
The nomination of Mr Matemu, a former Kenya Revenue Commissioner, had since December 2011 caused a stalemate in Parliament, dividing the House down the middle.
Some MPs had joined the Justice and Legal Affairs committee in rejecting the nominees arguing they appeared to lack the passion and drive to fight corruption.
They have also maintained that Mr Matemu be first cleared of allegations that he had deliberately failed to collect Sh2.4b in tax arrears from a Nairobi based company, Kingsway Motors during his time at KRA.
