- The National Assembly Majority Leader said the commission will unearth past manipulation of tenders.
- Ichung’wah had said the proposed framework would be moved as a private members’ bill.
Image: HANDOUT
National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah has insisted that the government will establish a State Capture Commission to ‘combat entrenched corruption.’
The Kikuyu MP said the commission will ensure that past holders of public offices are held to account as one of the ways to deal with rampant corruption.
"I am advocating for the establishment of a State Capture Commission to combat entrenched corruption in public sector institutions,” Ichung’wah posted on his X page.
The MP said the commission would independently investigate and expose instances of abuse of power and corruption, holding public officials accountable and recommending legal actions.
“The aim is to deter corruption, restore public trust, and promote a culture of integrity and accountability in governance,’’ he added.
Establishing a state capture commission is one of President William Ruto’s campaign promises.
The establishment of the commission is said to be in the works to probe claims of abuse of power by top officers in the former regime.
Kenya Kwanza is at the final stages of drafting the law that would lay the basis for the commission of inquiry.
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta and the top guns in his administration are some of the big guns that could be put on their defence for their acts of omission and commission while at the helm of state power.
There are reports that the legal framework would be ready by March or early April to pave the way for the inquest that is likely to trigger political fireworks.
Apart from Kenyatta, former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i and immediate former Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho are likely to face the commission.
Many other government officials believed to have played a part in “state capture and nepotism” in the Uhuru era would also be invited to appear before the probe team.
Ichung’wah claimed that the proposed framework would be moved as a private members’ bill.
He said the probe would help unearth how “state capture” was used in manipulating tenders, advancing the interest of private businesses.”
The inquiry will focus on among others claims that top officials used their powers to irregularly award tax exemptions, especially to foreign firms, as well as evading tax.
Top Kenya Kwanza honchos often claimed the waivers benefited the firms' local beneficial owners represented in the foreign entities by proxies.