Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) chief executive Twalib Mbarak and Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji have said they will not change their stand on not allowing politicians who are facing criminal charges to seek public office.
According to the two state bodies that deal with corruption and prosecution, politicians facing criminal charges are unfit to pursue or hold public office which differs from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
Those accused are still innocent, according to the electoral commission and are free to run for any public office.
However, Mbarak stated that their agencies have played a part in attempting to prevent politicians with questionable integrity from entering public office, but that their efforts have been fruitless since such leaders have taken advantage of legislative loopholes.
“Our work as EACC is to inform IEBC of the integrity of candidates presented to them to clear for an elective post. We have even told the IEBC that this candidate is facing a murder charge, the other one is under probe. These governors are facing corruption cases and so many,” he said, adding that they have helped the IEBC with information on the integrity of each aspirant.
The disclosure is likely to have an impact on the campaigns of several former governors, including Mike Sonko, Ferdinand Waititu and Mahmoud Abdi, who were impeached on corruption charges. Following a judicial decision, Abdi has been reinstated.
Waititu will seek to reclaim his Kiambu seat, while Sonko has proclaimed his desire to run for governor of Mombasa on a Wiper ticket.
Haji raised alarm yesterday about a rising trend of people with integrity difficulties pursuing elected positions, saying such people should not be permitted to engage in the democratic process.
He cited the example of Sonko, who was impeached for corruption and lack of integrity before shifting his political base and running for the same job.
Haji said politicians who have court cases and those who had been impeached should not be in the ballot, “Though this is a matter that is before the court, you cannot be impeached in Nairobi then relocate to Mombasa to vie for the same seat. There are about three governors who suffered the same impeachment. It will be a mockery of the law to allow such people to vie again.”
