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We’re not probing any Cabinet Secretaries – EACC

EACC Vice-Chairperson Irene Keino has described such reports as, "misleading to the public," and stated that they are not investigating Cabinet Secretaries either for, "bribe taking, influencing of tenders, irregular tender awards or abuse of office."/FILE

EACC Vice-Chairperson Irene Keino has described such reports as, “misleading to the public,” and stated that they are not investigating Cabinet Secretaries either for, “bribe taking, influencing of tenders, irregular tender awards or abuse of office.”/FILE

NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 26 – The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has denied reports that it is investigating Cabinet Secretaries for alleged corruption.

EACC Vice-Chairperson Irene Keino has described such reports as, “misleading to the public,” and stated that they are not investigating Cabinet Secretaries either for, “bribe taking, influencing of tenders, irregular tender awards or abuse of office.”

“Such reports by the newspapers concerned have not been made or issued by, or emanated from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission,” she stressed.

The reports very likely caused ripples in the Executive given the high profile state officers the commission has dragged to court over abuse of office.

President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto have however, time and again, stated that they would not protect anyone found to have engaged in corruption in their government.

Kenyatta even threatened to send non-performing Cabinet Secretaries home, “Time for familiarization is over and you have to deliver. Those who will not deliver will have to pack and go.”

Questions have however arisen over various government tenders including the Standard Gauge Railway tender and the standard one public school laptop tender.

Mining Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala also faced accusations of demanding a Sh80 million bribe from Cortec Mining after he cancelled all mining licences in August last year.

Current Lands Cabinet Secretary Charity Ngilu has in the past been a target of what was previously the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission investigations when she was Water Minister under former President Mwai Kibaki’s government.

The Parliamentary Committee on Lands and Natural Resources however cleared her of suspicion that she misappropriated Sh4 billion meant for the construction of dams across the country.

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Recently EACC detectives have arrested the now suspended Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission James Oswago, former National Health Insurance Fund boss Richard Kerich for abuse of office.

Director of Immigration Jane Waikenda was also picked-up for questioning in January over issuance of work permits to foreigners.

She however denied any involvement in corruption but acknowledged that there were corrupt cartels within the directorate that she said she was working to flush out.

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