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.
The Belgut MP Nelson Koech-led panel will vet the nominee at 2 pm at Parliament Building in Nairobi.
“In compliance with Article 118 (1) (b) of the Constitution and section 6 (9) of the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act, 2011, the Departmental Committee on Defense, hereby invite the public to submit any representations they may have with supporting evidence contesting the suitability of the nominee,” the committee had said in its notice inviting public views on Haji’s nomination.
President William Ruto nominated Haji on 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.
Uhuru chose him as DPP to spearhead the graft war alongside the then DCI boss George Kinoti.
Haji previously served at NIS as the Deputy Director of the Counter-Organised Crime Unit within the National Intelligence Service.
Haji is the son of the renowned late Defense Minister and respected politician 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 the Chief of Order of the Burning Spear (CBS).
The Star newspaper was the Person of the Year in 2019 following his relentless war on graft.
