This archive report was first published on 13 July 2020.
Published on July 13, 2020, a power struggle between Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji and Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) boss George Kinoti is threatening to undermine President Uhuru Kenyatta's anti-corruption efforts.
The infighting among Multi-Agency Team (MAT) members turned hostile last week when a virtual meeting degenerated into harsh exchanges, with one official reportedly telling another that they were junior and the agenda of the meeting suspect.
Two camps have emerged, with one led by Haji, Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) boss Twalib Mbarak, Financial Reporting Center (FRC) director Saitoti Maika, and Inspector General of Police Hilary Mutyambai, who were plucked from the National Intelligence Service.
The other camp is led by Kinoti, Attorney General Paul Kihara, who chairs MAT, and Assets Recovery Agency (ARA) Director Muthoni Kimani.
Senate Minority Whip Mutula Kilonzo Jnr has asked the President to rein in MAT members, arguing the infighting will undermine the war on graft.
“The President should act. Though they are independent offices, he formed MAT through an Executive Order to ensure synergy in the graft war. He must intervene to end partisan wars,” said the Makueni senator.
The tiff was triggered by proposed changes to the law designed to hand the EACC more powers in anti-money laundering investigations and allow ODPP representation in an agency to formulate policy on anti-money laundering.
There is also a feeling the AG, ARA, and DCI have ganged up to undermine their counterparts at ODPP, FRC, and EACC.
