MPs to consider nomination of EACC boss nominee

By Peter Ochieng

Members of Parliament (MPs) are set to consider the nomination of Abdi Ahmed Mohamud for the position of Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).

Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang'ula, informed MPs of a message from (EACC) chairman David Oginde, seeking parliamentary approval for Ahmed’s appointment pursuant to section 16(1) of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission Act and section 5(1) of the Public Appointments (Parliamentary) Approval Act. 

"I wish to report to the House that I have received a message from the chairperson of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission asking the House to approve a person for appointment as the Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC)," said the Speaker.

He directed the departmental committee on Justice and Legal Affairs to immediately commence the approval process, notify the nominee and the public of the hearing schedule, and table its report on or before Tuesday, 3rd December 2024.

"This expedited timeline is necessary to ensure the timely appointment of the EACC CEO.”

The Committee is expected to scrutinize the nominee's qualifications, experience, and integrity before making its recommendation to the House."

 EACC chairman David Oginde in a statement on Saturday said Mohamud’s name had been forwarded to the National Assembly for approval.

Until his nomination, he was deputising the outgoing CEO, Twalib Mbarak.

“Pursuant to Article 250 [12] of the Constitution as read with Section 16(1) of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2011, the Commission has nominated Mr. Abdi Mohamud, MBS, for approval by the National Assembly as the next EACC CEO,” Oginde said.

He was nominated after a competitive recruitment process involving 14 candidates, shortlisted from 172 applicants.

The nominee is an advocate of the High Court of Kenya and a seasoned investigator with over 30 years of experience, investigating corruption and economic crimes.

He holds a Master of Science Degree in Security and Risk Management.

He started his law enforcement career in 1989 as a Cadet Inspector at the National Police Service, and later joined the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACC) (now EACC) in 2005 as a Senior Officer in charge of the Commission's Rapid Response Division.

He rose through the ranks to head the Directorate of Investigations and was later appointed Deputy CEO.