Queries linger over ‘suspensions’

A policeman keeps a close eye on some of the bottles of liquor taken from Africa Spirits Depot in Makutano, Meru County during a crackdown on July 23, 2014. The drinks were taken for analysis since conmen pack illicit drinks to fool consumers that they genuine products. PHOTO | PHOEBE OKALL

What you need to know:

  • Calls for explanation to the Cabinet Secretary and the ministry’s spokesman, Mr Mwenda Njoka, were unanswered.
  • The Nation learnt that Dr William Okedi was asked by Inter CS Joseph ole Lenku, through a letter, to resume work a few weeks after the suspension.

Senior Government officials interdicted last May in connection with the deaths of 81 people who had drunk poisonous alcohol are back in office, investigations show.

Dr William Okedi, the chief executive of the National Authority for Campaign and Alcohol and Drug Abuse (Nacada) has been reinstated while his colleague at the anti-counterfeit agency, Dr John Akoten, did not leave his office although Interior minister Joseph ole Lenku had announced his interdiction.

The chief executives and senior police officers either never left office or were quietly reinstated after the interdictions by Mr Lenku turned out to be unprocedural.

ACCUSED DOCTORS

Calls for explanation to the Cabinet Secretary and the ministry’s spokesman, Mr Mwenda Njoka, were unanswered. Neither responded to short text messages.

Mr Lenku had accused Dr Okedi and Dr Akoten of not enforcing standards and regulations leading to sub-standard drinks flooding the market.

The Nation learnt that Dr Okedi was asked by Mr Lenku, through a letter, to resume work a few weeks after the suspension.

A Nacada board member confirmed Dr Okedi was back in office, adding that the CS did not bother to consult the board when he decided to recall the chief executive. (READ: Parliament urged to disband Nacada)

But the case of Dr Akoten is the most intriguing after it turned out that his agency was under a different docket and, therefore, Mr Lenku had no powers to interdict him.

The anti-counterfeit agency is under the Ministry of Industrialisation.

It also turned out that the agency had nothing to do with the issue since its core mandate is to enforce intellectual property rights.

Dr Akoten did not get a letter either from Mr Lenku or from his parent ministry and has been in office all through.

“The matter was tricky as the agency is under Industrialisation and not Interior ministry. How does a CS interdict an officer not under his docket?” asked a source who sought anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.

The interdicted policemen were from Kiambu, Makueni, Murang’a and Embu counties.

In Kiambu, the county police commander, Mr James Mugera, confirmed he was still in office but several of his officers were sent home. They included the police chiefs of Limuru Michael Mbaluku, Tigoni Stephen Okal and the detective, a Mr Ojwang’.

Murang’a police chief Johnstone Limo and his Makueni colleague Rachal Kipsoi were spared.

FEW SENT HOME

A senior police officer based at Police headquarters, who did not want to be named, said that despite Mr Lenku assuring Kenyans that the police chiefs of the five counties would be interdicted, only a few were sent home.

“We hope those who were affected will be reinstated,” the officer said.

The Nation also established that Makueni County Commissioner John Otieno and Kiambu deputy County Commissioner William Kang’ethe were also sent packing.