Senator wants Chirchir, Hassan to step aside over 'chicken' scandal

Energy Cabinet Secretary Davis Chichir (left) and IEBC chairman Ahmed Issack Hassan, both of whom were mentioned in the "chicken" scandal, which happened when they were officials at the defunct IIEC. FILE PHOTOS | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The two have been mentioned in the "chicken" scandal.
  • The senator said authorities should ask public officers named in the scandal to step aside or force them out.
  • Both Mr Chirchir and Mr Hassan, who were commissioners at the then IIEC when the scandal happened, have denied any role in the scandal.
  • Mr Chirchir said that he was ready to quit if found guilty of allegations.

Kajiado Senator Peter ole Mositet now wants Cabinet Secretary Davis Chichir and Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairman Ahmed Issack Hassan to be forced to resign.

Mr Mositet said that by continuing to stay in office, the two leaders and others mentioned in the "chicken" scandal were making a mockery of the Jubilee administration’s reform agenda.

“These public officers mentioned in a scandal of this magnitude where a London court has already convicted individuals should quit public office pending (the) outcome of the investigations in the case,” Mr Mositet said.

The senator’s position contrasts with that of most Jubilee leaders, who are pleading for proper investigations into the scandal in Kenya before any action can be taken.

“These people are giving the President (a) very hard time. If London has already convicted people and your name is mentioned, stop wasting time defending yourself; resign then when you prove yourself not guilty you can come back,” the senator said.

DEAL FIRMLY WITH CORRUPTION

He urged the Jubilee administration to deal firmly with corruption, adding that entertaining the culture was against the reform agenda.

The senator, who spoke to the Nation by phone, said that authorities should ask public officers named in the scandal to step aside or force them out to give credence to the ongoing investigations.

Both Mr Chirchir and Mr Hassan, who were commissioners at the then Interim Independent Electoral Commission (IIEC) when the scandal happened, have denied any role in the scandal.

Top Smith & Ouzman officials were last month jailed by a London court after they were found guilty of corruption including paying millions in kickbacks to top IIEC officials to influence the tendering process.

Both President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy, William Ruto, are of the opinion that fresh local investigations should be conducted on the scandal in which both Mr Chirchir and Mr Hassan have recorded statements.

But Opposition leaders Raila Odinga and former Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka want the government to rely on investigation materials from London to prosecute those mentioned in the scandal.

Mr Chirchir said that he was ready to quit if found guilty of allegations.

Last week, EACC chairman Mumo Matemu said top officials who had been grilled by his detectives would be required to step aside if they are taken to court to face bribery charges.