Kinisu tells House team he quit firm before NYS contracts

Embattled anti-corruption agency chairman Philip Kinisu has told a parliamentary committee that he resigned from a company that was awarded National Youth Service contracts in 2008.

Mr Kinisu produced documents showing he left Esaki Ltd, a firm run by his wife, and was not in charge when it won the NYS contracts.

The chairman came under more pressure last week when the four commissioners — Sophia Lepuchirit, Dabar Maalim, Paul Gachoka and Rose Macharia — asked him to step aside.

Mr Kinisu also said he stopped being a shareholder in October 2013 and should not be linked to its activities.

The Justice and Legal Affairs Committee gave the chairman, commissioners and EACC secretariat up to Thursday next week to iron out their differences.

The deadline was given at a meeting where the commissioners and secretariat are said to have accused each other of disrespect.

All the commissioners attended the meeting, with the secretariat chief executive Halakhe Waqo, his deputy Michael Mubea and directors.

MPs who attended the meeting, which was held in camera on request, said the differences between the commissioners and secretariat were evident, with a senior staffer accusing the commission of undermining his work.

The committee was apparently of the view that the issues were not too significant and should be resolved internally.

“Ours is merely to listen to the issues and find ways of resolving them within the law. As regards the working relationship, that matter rests entirely with the commissioners,” chairman Samuel Chepkong’a said.

Christine Ombaka (Siaya Woman Rep, ODM) said: “The idea is for them to work together as a team. The meeting today is to counsel them.”

Mr Chepkong’a said the committee would ask the commission for its work schedule, which cases were pending and hear from them when they will complete investigations and hand over the files to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Despite the submission of documents by Mr Kinisu, the committee declined to go into a matter, insisting its concern was about the working relationship between the commission and its secretariat.

“We listened very keenly but we provided no solution. As you know, it is not incumbent upon this committee to tell them how they should perform their functions,” said Mr Chepkong’a.

He said the committee would handle a petition filed in the National Assembly to initiate the removal of Mr Kinisu.

He is being investigated by a multi-agency taskforce.