President Uhuru Kenyatta has moved to stop the clash of egos between the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) asking them to collaborate to win the graft war.
While congratulating them for doing a good job in the renewed war on corruption, the President who visited the DCI headquarters along Kiambu Road yesterday, told the investigation agencies that there was need to do more.
Although the official narrative about the President’s tour to the DCI which the media was barred from covering says he only asked the feuding agencies to collaborate, sources said he was firm against infighting.
“Today I note with a lot of happiness that due to collaboration under the multi-agency approach, we see more and more cases being prosecuted,” the President said.
“We recognise the independence and also the interdependence of these offices. Our success cannot be independent of each other. We will not succeed if we do not collaborate,” he added.
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A cold war has been simmering between the DCI and EACC for the last few months over who is supposed to take credit for the high profile arrests though both bodies are mandated by the Constitution to fight corruption.
EACC, whose mandate according to the Constitution is investigating economic crimes, feels the other agencies should leave the job to them, a fact that has been amplified by the attention the DCI and Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) have been getting.
This clash of egos has in the past threatened to derail the war on corruption through investigation delays and bungling of cases. Towards the end of last year, a DCI officer was rescued by his colleagues in Kabete after being arrested by EACC officers on suspicion of soliciting a Sh1.1 million bribe.
President Kenyatta also waded into the standoff over the proposed merger of police forces that would effectively put officers from the DCI under the OCPDs of the divisions they serve. The DCI wants to maintain the control of all officers under then as it has been.
Training and equipping
“We are not here to merge the DCI and the ODPP but to recognise that these two institutions that are anchored in the Executive need each other for effective service delivery,” said the President.
On the ongoing police reforms, the President said the government would invest more in police welfare, equipment and upgrade of facilities to make the unit efficient and effective.
“The government will continue to invest in the welfare of the officers, providing resources, training and equipping them. From this, we would also want better results from you by dealing with criminals, the corrupt and terrorist,” the President said.
“We will continue to support you, but just as much as we will do to support you, we will also be very firm and hostile to those who abuse their positions,” he added.
