The civil society has condemned a move by Kiharu MP to introduce a bill to clip the powers of the DCI and the DPP in fighting graft.
The group has welcomed the arrest of Samburu Governor Moses Lenolkulal in connection with corruption allegations, terming it as a big step towards fighting runaway graft.
Ndindi Nyoro, an ally of Deputy President William Ruto, has sponsored the Anti-Corruption Laws (Amendment) Bill, which has already passed the First Reading.
The Bill significantly deals a blow to the DCI in graft-related investigations and clips the powers of the DPP, restricting him only to the prosecution of criminal matters.
Should the Bill be passed and assented to by the President, investigations of all corruption cases will fall squarely under the EACC, leaving the DCI with other criminal matters to investigate and recommend prosecution by the DPP.
Speaking in Nairobi on Tuesday, Civil Society Reference Group convener Suba Churchill defended the DCI after some politicians demanded investigations into corruption cases be left to the EACC.
“We will not entertain bills proposed to curtail the powers of investigative agencies. We condemn the MPs who are misusing their powers. Instead of representing their people, they are proposing bills that are designed to protect the corrupt,” Suba said.
Speaking during the launch of a campaign towards marking the International Civil Society Week in Kenya, the official said corruption is an economic crime.
“Those are criminals who belong in jail and cannot be allowed to choose whether the DCI should be part of the agencies to fight corruption,” Suba said.
“As civil society, we are surprised to hear voices that are supposed to fight corruption issuing contradictory statements.”
Civil Society threatened to call for demonstrations against those who are protecting the corrupt and ensure they are held to account.
“There is contradicting and conflicting statements from the institution of the Presidency that every time the President speaks, there is another voice countering him or appearing to suggest there are two presidents in this country,” he said.
Those who want the war on corruption to be left to the EACC know the anti-graft agency lacks sufficient capacity to investigate with the kind of speed the DCI has been able to probe these matters, he said.
“That is why you hear Michael Mubea is best known for stage-managing early morning arrests that are never followed up through to conviction,” Suba said.
Suba said that is the kind of drama that the corrupt want.
