• Haji, who had previously served as the NIS Deputy Director of the Counter Organised Crime Unit, has what it takes to lead the agency.
• Parliament will on May 30 grill Haji on his suitability for the position.
Image: LABAN WALLOGA
President William Ruto made the right choice in the appointment of DPP Noordin Haji as the next head of the National Intelligence Service, the National Grand Mufti of Kenya Sheikh Omar Buya has said.
Haji was appointed as the Director General of the intelligence agency last week to take over from Philip Kameru. Kameru is serving his final term in office following the renewal of his contract by retired President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2019.
Kameru rose through the ranks in the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) to the position of Director of Military Intelligence before he was appointed NIS boss back in 2014.
On Tuesday, Buya said Haji, who had previously served as the NIS Deputy Director of the Counter Organised Crime Unit, has what it takes to lead the agency.
“He [Haji] is a person who understands this office very well. We are confident that he is going to deliver on this new mandate,” Sheikh Buya told journalists in his office in Mombasa.
Parliament will on May 30 vet Haji on his suitability for the position. He holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Master’s degree from the University of Wales, Cardiff.
Additionally, he holds a second Master’s degree in National Security Policy with Merit (MNSPO) from the Australian National University.
“I urge Parliament to vet and approve his nomination so he can proceed to continue serving the nation,” he said.
Sheikh Buya blasted those opposed to Haji’s appointment on allegations that as the DPP, he (Haji) was coerced to drop cases and charges levelled against President Ruto’s close allies.
“As the DPP, I believe that he was guided by the law in his administration and dispensation of justice. His duties as described in the Constitution allowed him to prosecute or withdraw cases depending on the availability of evidence,” he said.
“He did well as the DPP, why are those opposed to his appointment only seeing the cases he withdrew and turning a blind eye to those he prosecuted?”
At the same time, Sheikh Buya lauded President Ruto for his war against graft in the country.
He said Kenya is a country blessed with a lot of resources that can spur development, but corruption continues to drag the country behind.
“As clerics, we welcome the new zeal that the President has demonstrated to end the vice. Corruption continues to be a thorn in the flesh for the government and has stalled development and the improvement of the lives of Kenyans for years,” Buya said.
Last week, Ruto fired the chairman, CEO, board members and top management of Kemsa over a botched Sh3.7 billion mosquito net tender.
Sheikh Buya also urged Kenyans to give the President time to deliver on his promises even as they complain about the harsh economic times.
He urged leaders to support the head of state and stop politicking all the time for the country to realise any meaningful development.
“The problem is that we like politicking a lot, let us focus on how we can work together to develop the country. The President I believe has the best interest of Kenyans at heart, let us give him time to deliver on his promises,” he said.