Kinisu's fate appears sealed

Philip Kinisu, the chairman of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, at a press conference that he held at Laico Regency Hotel in Nairobi on July 19, 2016. PHOTO | DIANA NGILA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Phillip Kinisu, the chairman of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, has been under fire after it was revealed that a company called Esaki that he was director of had been paid in questionable dealings with the scandal-hit National Youth Service.
  • Esaki is reportedly run by Mr Kinisu's wife and daughter.

The fate of embattled anti-graft boss Phillip Kinisu appears to have been sealed after a parliamentary committee that was investigating his suitability recommended that he leaves office.

Mr Kinisu, the chairman of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission has been under fire after it was revealed that a company, Esaki Ltd, where he was a director, and is reportedly run by his wife and daughter, was paid in questionable dealings with scandal-hit National Youth Service.

EACC on the other hand, is investigating the NYS over the loss of Sh791 million, in corruption-related activities, that has seen a Cabinet Secretary resign, and senior NYS and Ministry of Devolution officials, businessmen and wheeler dealers charged in court.

A source at the meeting of the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee meeting on Saturday, told the Nation that the committee had recommended that Mr Kinisu (below) be removed from office, and would be recommending the same to Parliament, when it tables its report tomorrow.

“During a heated meeting, it was resolved that Kinisu should go over his dealings with a company which won questionable tenders with the NYS which is under investigation by the EACC,” said the source who cannot be quoted discussing committee matters.

The source said there was heated debate, with Homa Bay MP Peter Kaluma saying the embattled chairman should be allowed to remain in office and serve out his term, while most MPs led by Kiharu’s Irungu Kang’ata, said that the EACC boss had to leave.

The committee chaired by Ainabkoi MP Samuel Chepkong’a last week grilled Mr Kinisu where he admitted he was a signatory to a bank account that received millions of shillings from the NYS.

The EACC boss had a hard time trying to explain why he thought such dealings did not amount to conflict of interest. He, however, argued that the law allows commissioners, as they work part time, to engage in other lawful business.

The team has been investigating Mr Kinisu’s association with Esaki Ltd that was paid Sh35.4 million by NYS in 2014 and 2015.