Court bars EACC from hiring regional directors

NAIROBI, KENYA: The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has been restrained from appointing Deputy Directors for their regional offices after an employee who had been shortlisted but fired moved to court.

High Court Judge Mumbi Ngugi ordered EACC to halt the recruitment until a case filed by Henry Morara Angwenyi is heard and determined.

Morara, an education officer serving the anti-graft body, had asked the high court to reinstate him after being dismissed on allegations of revealing illegally vital investigation information to non members of the commission.

The officer is suspected to have leaked some confidential commission documents including email conversation to the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) which has raised integrity questions on some of the senior officers.

Before his dismissal, Morara had been shortlisted and interviewed for appointment as one of the ten regional directors and now fears that the position may be filled. Judge Ngugi gave a hearing date for next week on Friday the 7th of August.

Morara had moved to sue EACC, its chair Mumo Matemu and the Commissioners last Monday for wrongful dismissal.