EACC summons CEO over claims of holding multiple state jobs

“Next week she will be our visitor. We are not treating her as a suspect."

In Summary
  • The Commission said it will interrogate her to establish whether she holds the positions and how she acquired them.
  • A petition filed claimed Jennifer Gitiri has been drawing salaries and allocations from the eight public jobs she holds, disadvantaging many other deserving Kenyans.
EACC CEO Twalib Mbarak addressing journalists in Murang'a on December 8, 2023.
EACC CEO Twalib Mbarak addressing journalists in Murang'a on December 8, 2023.
Image: Alice Waithera

The Ethics and Ant-Corruption Commission (EACC) will interrogate Council of Legal Education (CLE) CEO Jennifer Gitiri over claims that she holds multiple public jobs.

This follows a petition by Dr Magare Gikenyi at the high court claiming that Gitiri has been drawing salaries and allocations from the eight public jobs she holds, disadvantaging many other deserving Kenyans.

Gikenyi wanted the court to issue orders prohibiting Gitiri from sitting as a Board Member or employee of the Council of Legal Education, Kenya Law Reporting Council(KLRC), Kenya Revenue Authority(KRA), witness Protection Agency (WPA) and Victim Protection Agency (VPA).

The petitioner told the court that Gitiri holds positions including Deputy Director, Assets Recovery Agency, acting CEO, Council of Legal Education, Corporate Secretary, Assets Recovery Agency and Acting Secretary, Council of Legal Education.

He said she also sits on the Board of Directors of the Kenya Law Reporting Council, Victim Protection Agency and Kenya Revenue Authority as a Representative of KLRC.

He asked the court to stop Gitiri from drawing allowances for sitting on those institutions’ boards until the case is heard and determined.

Participants follow a public engagement forum in Murang'a on December 8, 2023.
Participants follow a public engagement forum in Murang'a on December 8, 2023.
Image: Alice Waithera

Gikenyi also wants the court to stop the five public institutions from allowing Gitiri to sit as a board member and or employee of the interested parties and drawing allowances.

EACC CEO Twalib Mbarak said it will interrogate her to establish whether she holds the positions and how she acquired them.

“Next week she will be our visitor. We are not treating her as a suspect, we want to get the facts… How did she end up having those appointments and are they governed within the law that it's fine for her to have them or not."

“If we find that they were not proper, there are two ways we can go about it. Either issue an advisory or take the other unpleasant route,” Twalib said.

Further, the EACC boss revealed plans to charge a senior Siaya County staff for mismanaging public funds through impress collection and notes surrendering.

One of the staffers, Twalib said, pocketed around Sh18 million.

EACC chairperson David Oginde said the commission does not target any particular group, individual or community, and that it deals with cases as they arise.

“If they happen to come from one particular community at one given time, it’s not because the community is being targeted but because those incidences happen to have come from that place."

He however noted that a large number of cases emanating from the counties and that governors have to be held to account as the county heads.

He said when some people are investigated over graft, some Kenyans come out claiming they are being unfairly targeted.

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