MPs approve nomination of Abdi Ahmed as next EACC boss

By Peter Ochieng

Members of Parliament (MPs) have approved the nomination of Abdi Ahmed Mahmoud as the next Ethics and Anti-Corruption Chief Executive Officer.

Legislatures unanimously approved the motion to adopt the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC) report, which recommended Mahmoud’s approval. The nominee is the current EACC deputy CEO.

“That taking into consideration the findings of the committee on the vetting of the nominee, this House approves appointment of Mohamud as the secretary and CEO of the EACC,” the JLAC report reads in part.

He now awaits official appointment by President William Ruto, before seceding his outgoing boss, Twalib Mbarak. Mbarak is expected to leave office in January 2025, after being at the helm for a 6-year non-renewable term.

Speaking on Tuesday when he faced members of the JLAC committee lead by Tharaka MP George Murugara for vetting, Mohamud said that being an insider, he knows what to do to effectively tackle graft in the country.

He said EACC and Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) are working seamlessly to end graft in the country.

"Our relationship with ODPP is good but it needs to be better. ODPP has the responsibility to employ qualified people like lawyers to prosecute cases. We did a request to have ODPP lawyers prosecute some of the cases in the past and it was declined," he stated.

Once appointed EACC CEO, Abdi said he will work impartially adding that he would never agree to be used as a conveyor belt by anyone.

"I do not belong to any political party; I will never belong to any political party. I will not be used as a conveyor belt," he said. "So long as I am the CEO, we will not be used for political witch-hunts. We will be guided by the law and the Constitution," added.

Mohamud is a seasoned advocate. He holds a Master's degree in security risk management from the University of Leicester, and a Bachelors of Law from Mount Kenya University.