Matemu gets MPs’ nod to lead war on corruption

Mr Mumo Matemo, a former taxman whose appointment was widely opposed, was on Thursday approved as the new director of the anti-corruption agency by Parliament.

Other two nominees to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), Prof Jane Onsongo and Ms Irene Keino, were also endorsed unanimously.

There were only three dissenting voices, those of the vice-chairman of the Legal Affairs committee, Mr Njoroge Baiya, Ikolomani MP Boni Khalwale and Mr Charles Onyancha of Bonchari.

An attempt by Dr Khalwale to amend the motion to withdraw Mr Matemu’s name until the integrity questions raised earlier in the House were investigated was defeated.

Dr Khalwale argued that President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga should only bring his name to Parliament for approval after he was cleared.

He revisited accusations against Mr Matemu, a former commissioner of the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), saying he had failed to collect Sh2.4 billion in taxes from Kingsway Motors.

The Ikolomani MP re-tabled documents he had earlier given to the House claiming that Mr Matemu, then the commissioner in charge of legal and support services, failed to collect the taxes even after a company, Speedway Commercial Agencies, that was contracted by KRA to collect the money sought to do so.

And when Speedways went to court to force Kingsway to pay up, Mr Matemu failed to defend the matter in court, Dr Khalwale said.

The MP accused former KRA boss Michael Waweru and the current one Mr John Njiraini of failing to address that failure.

“That matter is still alive even after Mr Waweru and Mr Matemu left,’’ the MP told the House. He questioned the “refusal” to subject Mr Matemu to further scrutiny before taking office, saying the same had been applied to senior judges who were recently sent packing from the Judiciary.

Parliament had earlier voted by a one-vote majority to reject the report of the Legal Affairs committee that had concluded the nominees lacked passion to fight corruption.

House Speaker Kenneth Marende then ruled that this did not amount to approving of the names and directed the Government to take a motion to Parliament for approval of the names.

The President is now expected to officially appoint the commissioners. Transport Minister Amos Kimunya and Deputy Speaker Farah Maalim opposed the Khalwale motion, arguing there were no grounds to reject Mr Matemu.

In moving the motion, Leader of Government Business Kalonzo Musyoka told Parliament: “The government adequately consulted before giving the mandate. It is unanimous on the matter.”

He pleaded with MPs to give the three the benefit of doubt to deal with the challenge of corruption “because they are all professionals who would not want to be seen to let the country down.”

Some MPs, including ministers, who had earlier opposed the nominations, endorsed the list.

“We cannot afford to give up on the fight against corruption. We cannot afford not to have the commission especially at a time when we are going into a General Election,” said Justice minister Eugene Wamalwa.