The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission chairman, Philip Kinisu, has eventually bowed to the pressure and resigned from the post.
In a statement sent to the press, media, Kinisu blamed “faulty” information that has been circulating tarnishing his name which led to petition and evantually move to form a tribunal that would ‘consider his removal from office’.
“There has been extensive adverse reporting of matters related to me and business owned by my family. This culminated in a petition being filed in the national Assembly seeking my removal from office and yesterday, a report by the Justice and Legal Affairs committee of the National Assembly recommended the formation of a tribunal by the President to consider my removal from office, read part of the statement.
Kinisu said that he and the company are innocent and all the allegations that have been made ae just meant to paint the negative image in the public domain.
“I maintain that the company and I are innocent of all the allegations that have been made. At the same time, I am mindful that the significant resources and attention are being expended by the state and the public on deliberating these matters rather than to the fight against corruption,” read part of the statement.
“Further and as a result of the protracted negative deliberations of the matters in the public domain, my continuing to serve as the chairman of EACC has become impractical,” added Kinisu.
Kinisu said that his resignation was a move to ensure that corruption is fully fought against and as a result of that, announcing his resignation.
“Therefore, to ensure that due attention is paid to the fight against corruption, I have today tendered to His Excellency the president my resignation as Chairman of EACC. By this measure, I believe that EACC will henceforth be able to focus on carrying its mandate,” the statement read.
Kinisu has been under fire following claims that his family firm was a beneficiary of the Ksh 791 million loot from the National Youth Service (NYS).
On Tuesday, the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee of the National Assembly recommended for the formation of a tribunal to probe the EACC boss over the issues raised against him.