Parliament to vote on EACC Bill

The fate of the Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission Chief Executive Officer Halakhe Waqo and his deputy, Michael Mubea continue to lie with Parliament after National Assembly’s Justice and Legal Affairs Committee moved fresh amendments to the president’s memorandum.

Speaker Justin Muturi, however, determined that the committee’s recommendations negate President Kenyatta’s proposed amendments.

The Parliamentary Justice and Legal Affairs Committee has recommended that proposed amendments to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption (EACC) act be further amended to have all employees vetted afresh within six months.

President Uhuru Kenyatta declined to sign into law an amendment Bill that would have sent home the EACC CEO and his deputy, instead sending the Bill back to Parliament with reasons for his decision.

The Justice and Legal Affairs Committee analyzed the President’s memorandum and gave fresh recommendations.

The committee, however, agreed with the president’s recommendation to have a 14-day window to advertise vacancies in the anti-graft body and kick off the process of filling them.

It will take a two-thirds majority vote to pass the new amendments, given the speaker’s determination that they negate the president’s own amendment.

Report by Jacque Maribe