Standoff could see Kilemi emerge as compromise candidate
Dr Sarah Kilemi’s name has twice come up to head the anti-corruption commission, but the post remains so near yet so far.
With the current division over the other two candidates – Mr Mumo Matemu and Mr Okong’o O’Mogeni – Dr Kilemi could emerge as the “compromise” candidate if push comes to shove. (READ: Kenya MPs divided over graft chiefs)
A group of MPs in President Kibaki’s Party of National Unity have asked him to “listen to the voice of reason” and decline to appoint Mr Matemu along with Prof Kerubo Onsongo and Ms Irene Keino.
Dr Kilemi first applied to head the anti-corruption commission after the exit of Mr Aaron Ringera, but PLO Lumumba clinched the job. She emerged second in the interviews.
On Saturday, the economist told Sunday Nation that she is ready to leave her Sh1.8million-a-month job as the director of administration at the Arusha-based International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda to fight corruption.
“I have the capacity and passion to tackle the monster called corruption. I am not motivated by money but by the desire to serve my country,” said the 49-year-old wife of Higher Education assistant minister Kilemi Mwiria.
“We can make a difference. I want to share my international experience in the fight against corruption and all forms of impunity with my home country.”
But she is uncomfortable with the argument that the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission should be headed by lawyers.
Dr Kilemi maintains that the role of the chairperson is to formulate policies and ensure that they are implemented by technical staff, who will include lawyers.
Dr Mwiria holds a PhD in development economics from Aachen Technical University in Germany, a Masters degree in International Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the United States International University (USIU), Kenya.
She also has an associate degree in Information Science from Foothill College, USA.
The Sunday Nation also learnt that a meeting of some PNU politicians at Panafric Hotel ahead of the Tuesday debate resolved to oppose Mr Matemu’s nomination.
The MPs in the meeting are said to have voiced their preference for Dr Kilemi and accused a senior government official of blocking her nomination.
