This archive report was first published on 7 July 2019.
July 7, 2019
Michael Mubea, the deputy CEO of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), has resigned to take up a new role as Kenya's ambassador to Dublin. His resignation comes at a time when the EACC is working to restore public confidence, which had been eroded due to allegations of shoddy probes.
According to an internal communication by the Human Resource acting assistant director Ellyjoy Bundi, dated July 1, Mubea's resignation is effective from July 1. The communication also states that the contract of Jennipher Kimani, the finance and planning director, expired on June 30, and Joel Mukumu has been appointed as the acting director with effect from July 1.
Meanwhile, two EACC staff members have been disciplined for misconduct. Samuel Krop Ngolesia, a Prevention Officer I, was summarily dismissed over allegations of submitting fake academic papers, while Richard Pkemei Topilla, a driver, was sacked over bribery claims.
During his vetting by the Defence and Foreign Relations Committee of the National Assembly, Mubea was accused of inefficiency but denied the claims. He was also referred to as the 'Mr Fix It' at the commission and a 'mafia don' by some legislators.
However, Mubea denied the allegations, stating that the appointment as ambassador was a move by the government to get him out of EACC.
