DPP Noordin Haji is set to face a parliamentary vetting panel as he seeks to become the country’s next spy chief.
The National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director-General nominee will appear before National Assembly’s Defense, Intelligence and Foreign Relations Committee for vetting on Tuesday.
The Belgut MP Nelson Koech-led panel will vet the nominee at 2pm at Parliament Buildings in Nairobi.
The committee will be expected to table its report for either approval or rejection once the House resumes sittings on June 6.
President William Ruto nominated Haji in May 16 to succeed Philip Kameru.
Kameru heads into retirement after serving his final second following the renewal of his contract by retired President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2019.
If approved by the committee and endorsed by the House, Haji will be going back to head the agency he understands better.
Former Uhuru Kenyatta picked Haji from NIS to become the country’s second Director of Public Prosecutions under the 2010 Constitution.
Haji previously served at NIS as the Deputy Director of the Counter-Organised Crime Unit within the National Intelligence Service.
Meanwhile, MPs from pastoralist communities on Monday rallied behind Haji for the country’s spymaster job.
The lawmakers accuse a section of civil society of laying roadblocks on the path of Haji.
Led by Saku MP Dido Rasso, the MPs warned against politicisation of Haji’s nomination saying he does not only have the requisite academic qualification, but is also an insider who has worked in the national intelligence circles.
The Star has established that a number of civil societies have written memorandum against Haji’s nomination.
In a notice, Clerk of the National Assembly Samuel Njoroge gave the public up to May 29 to submit any memorandum they may have. This was to be done by way of written statements on oath (affidavits), with supporting evidence contesting the suitability of the nominee for appointment as the Director General, National Intelligence Service.
According to the MPs, the numerous petitions by the civil society is a clear indication that they want to sway the opinions of MPs against Noordin ahead of the approval hearing.
Haji’s vetting comes at a time a number of civil societies have petitioned the Public Service Commission seeking his removal as the DPP over the recent withdrawal of high-profile cases involving senior government officials.
Transparency International even went further to recall Leadership Integrity Award handed to him in 2019.
Addressing a press conference at Parliament Buildings, the lawmakers termed the action of the civil societies ill-intentioned and that which is meant to pleas e external interests.
“Our attention has been drawn to what appears to be civil society instigated campaign to malign Mr Noordin’s character or sway opinions of Members of Parliament against Mr Noordin ahead of this critical parliamentary process,” Rasso said.
“We therefore caution anyone with ill-intentions of maligning Mr Noordin’s character ahead of vetting and approval hearing by Parliament, that they are too late.”
Eldas MP Adan Keynan wondered why the petitions are coming up immediately after nomination of Haji.
“We know the dynamics of this country and we know this is politics. And this is why we are asking why the hullabaloo now at this very stage, why didn’t they raise these questions when he served as DPP. Noordin is a very clean man and as of now he has done nothing wrong,” he said.
Haji is the son of the late former Defence minister Yusuf Haji.
He holds a Bachelor of Law and 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.
Haji was admitted to the Bar in 1999 and thereafter joined the Public Service in January 2000, working at the Attorney General’s Office.
In December 2012, Haji was awarded the Order of the Grand Warrior of Kenya (OGW) following devotion to public service.
In December, 2018, he received Chief of order of the Burning Spear (CBS).
The Star newspaper as the person of the year in 2019 following his relentless on graft.
