EACC comes under scrutiny over internal deputy CEO job advert

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has been under sharp scrutiny from the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) for advertising the position of Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) internally.

During a session chaired by Wilberforce Oundo (Funyula), the Committee questioned the commission's rationale behind advertising such a crucial position internally.

EACC CEO Twalib Mbarak appeared before the watchdog Committee to address audit queries for the Financial Year 2020/2021.

Among the concerns raised by the Committee was the commission's allowance for a deputy CEO and an Assistant Director of Supply Chain Management who has been in an acting position for over seven months.

"Advertising a key position of a deputy CEO internally was unlawful and also denied other competent Kenyans a chance to apply for the job," stated Oundo.

Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera voiced suspicions that the internal advertisement was a scheme to favour an officer who had already been in an acting position.

"The committee reads a sinister motive in a decision by the commission not to advertise the position externally. They should have given an opportunity to other Kenyans to apply for the job," Nabwera added.

The committee was told a Kenyan citizen had taken the commission to court to challenge its decision not to externally advertise the position, stalling the recruitment process.

According to the auditor's report, the Commission had placed an internal advertisement for the vacancies, which closed on July 7, 2020.

A petition was filed at the Employment and Labour Court, Nairobi, in August 2020, leading to the halt of the recruitment process.

Gatundu South MP Gabriel Kagombe questioned why a body mandated to fight corruption was seemingly violating the law on staff recruitment.

In his response, Mbarak defended the commission, stating that they were acting in accordance with the law in advertising the position internally.

"The Commission policy provides for officers to be appointed in an acting capacity for up to six months, not exceeding 12 months. However, in special circumstances, as approved by the commission, the acting period may be extended beyond 12 months," clarified Mbarak.

He further confirmed that the positions of deputy CEO and deputy Director of Supply Chain Management were advertised internally, but the recruitment process was hindered by the petition.