Kinisu also accused his own agency of spitefully packaging a list of allegations against him as claimed by a civil society group – Bunge la Mwananchi – which blew the whistle on the matter/FILE
NAIROBI, Kenya, July 19 – Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) Chairman Philip Kinisu now says accusations being levelled against him over questionable dealings with the NYS and a Non-Governmental Organisation he heads, are malicious.
Kinisu also accused his own agency of spitefully packaging a list of allegations against him as claimed by a civil society group – Bunge la Mwananchi – which blew the whistle on the matter.
His family is being accused of transacting suspect business worth millions with the National Youth Service through Esaki Limited.
“The allegations that have been made against the company and I are unsubstantiated and yet as I speak to you this morning, we have been tried and convicted in the court of public opinion by the deliberate manner in which the matters have been framed and orchestrated,” he complained.
Just like any Kenyan, Kinisu categorically stated that he has a right “to do business” with any government institution.
“Is there a law that prevents any Kenyan citizen or company doing business with a government institution?” he asked. “Why is Esaki Ltd being singled out in fishing expedition for evidence?”
Questions of conflict of interest have been raised after it emerged the company, has been doing business with government agencies – including the National Youth Service whose contracts are under active investigation.
In his defence, Kinisu says that such conflict would only arise if the company was transacting business with EACC.
He was the director of Esaki Limited during the NYS transactions – a family company registered in 2000 – until April 19 this year, “when I ceased to be a director on account of my commitments at EACC.”
It is a company he says which has been operating legally and in the case of NYS, he insisted that it performed its obligations as per the terms of the contracts, “and was subsequently paid as per the contracts.”
All contracts between the company and NYS, he said were won and executed prior to his appointment as the chairperson of EACC.
The troubled graft buster also refuted claims that a Non-Governmental Organisation where he serves as a chairman is involved in money laundering amounting to a staggering Sh5 billion.
The NGO is also said to be non-compliant with government regulations and failing to account for funds from donors.
But Kinisu says all the activities of African Population and Health Research Centre-Kenya (APHRC) are audited while saying he was not aware of any preliminary probe on its activities.
“I respect the rule of law and citizen’s rights to raise issues of public interest whenever appropriate. However, the law and citizen’s rights should not be used by those who can to intimidate,” he asserted.
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