National Assembly Justice committee approve Abdi’s nomination as Eacc CEO

The National Assembly Justice and Legal Affairs Committee has approved Abdi Ahmed Mohamud’s nomination for appointment as the Secretary/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (Eacc).

The committee chairman George Murugara tabled the report on his approval today hours after his vetting.

While moving the motion for the appointment of the nominee on the floor of the House, the vice chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs Mwengi Mutuse announced that nominee met all the constitutional and statutory requirements in particular those on citizenship, leadership, ethics and integrity, and tax compliance.

He said the nominee was recruited through an open transparent and competitive process, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the law.

Abdi’s approval comes at a time when there are increasing calls for transparency and accountability in government institutions.

The commission had received 172 applications from which 14 candidates were shortlisted and interviews conducted between November 19 and 21.

Abdi who currently serves as the commission’s Deputy CEO and previously held the position of Director of Investigations, is set to succeed the outgoing CEO, Twalib Mbarak.

“That taking into consideration the findings of the committee on the vetting of the nominee, this House approves appointment of Mohamud as the secretary and CEO of the Eacc.” The report read in part.

During his vetting before the House team, Abdi said his net worth is Sh135million also boasted of being the suitable successor of Mbarak, whose six-year nonrenewable term expired.

Previously, Abdi served as a police investigator and a trained lawyer will be the first office holder to have risen through the ranks to scale up to the post as previous Chief Executive Officers are political appointees.

“If approved I will be the first CEO of the commission who is an insider and who understands the inside of the commission.” Abdi said.

He disclosed delays in charging suspects has derailed the war against corruption especially in the public service where high levels of corruption have been reported.

“The level of corruption in the country is extremely high. If people are investigated and charged quickly it will be justice served for the people.” Abdi noted.

He assured the MPs that he will bank on his 30 years’ experience in fighting corruption to take the war against graft to the next level with a view of strengthening the Leadership and Integrity Act to make it effective.

“The Leadership and Integrity Act is not in conformity with Chapter Six of the constitution. This law has a lot of gaps that have not helped in the anti-graft campaign because we only enforce what is there,” he said.

Abdi dispelled assertion that he is a political appointee and will only become a State’s conveyor belt to weaponise the war against corruption, noting that it is the law that will guide him.

He told the MPs that the commission has recovered over Sh4.5 billion a year for the last five years.

He revealed plans to have talks with the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) over the possibility of having Eacc lawyers be part of the DPP’s prosecution team in the cases investigated by the commission.

“The first assignment is to sit down with the DPP to deliberate on the need of appointing Eacc lawyers as a test case to prosecuting the cases investigated by the commission.” Abdi noted.

“We have lawyers who are involved in the investigations from the start to the end. They have a better way of understanding the cases than a lawyer laying their hands on the file for the first time. If engaged, no case will be lost for want of evidence.” He added.