The matter in question is in reference to a complaint lodged with the EACC by the Civil Society Organisation, Bunge la Mwananchi, which complained that a firm associated with Kinisu (RIGHT) had transacted millions worth of business with the National Youth Service/FILE
NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul 18 – The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission on Monday evening announced that a multi-agency team was looking into complaints lodged against Chairman Philip Kinisu, over dealings at the National Youth Service.
The EACC in a statement to the media, said the investigations were being undertaken by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations in conjunction with the Asset Recovery Agency and the Kenya Revenue Authority as per the Director of Public Prosecution’s directions after the matter was brought to his attention.
The matter in question is in reference to a complaint lodged with the EACC by the Civil Society Organisation, Bunge la Mwananchi, which complained that a firm associated with Kinisu had transacted millions worth of business with the National Youth Service (NYS) which is currently under investigation by the very body Kinisu chairs – EACC.
“The Commission received a complaint with allegations that a firm owned/managed by the wife of the EACC Chairman, Esaki Limited, was involved in scandals at the National Youth Service where it was allegedly paid for good which were never supplied or over-priced; and that the company colluded with NYS officers and banks to defraud the NYS,” Monday’s statement from the Commission reads.
According to Kinisu’s fellow Commissioners, he denied the charge when confronted with it; explaining that his involvement in the firm was never a secret and that he had “since” resigned as a company director.
“The Chairman informed the said meeting that Esaki Ltd indeed existed and he was a director. However, he further reported that he had since resigned from the company as a director. His interest in the said company was disclosed in his wealth declaration form.”
Preliminary investigations, the Commission said, had indeed revealed that there was business transacted between Esaki and the NYS as well as other government agencies.
“The Chairman recused himself from the said Commission deliberations, in line with Section 12(1) of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2011,” the Commission makes clear.
It thereafter “unanimously resolved” that the matter be handed over to another investigative agency to avoid any appearance of collusion or bias.
“The preliminary investigation recommended a forensic investigation which would ascertain whether there were any irregularities or violations of any law in the award and execution of the tenders. The decision to have the matter investigated by another agency was for the purposes of ensuring that the investigations were undertaken in a fair, impartial and objective manner.”
The statement was signed by the EACC Vice Chairperson Sophia Lepuchirit, Commissioner Dabar Maalim, Paul Gachoka, Rose Macharia and Halakhe who in his capacity as EACC Chief Executive Officer, is also Secretary to the Commission.
Kinisu is on Tuesday morning expected to make a public statement on the matter.
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