Two EACC bosses accused of impropriety and abuse of office

A report by Commission on Administrative Justice (CAJ) accuses two senior Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) officials of impropriety and abuse of power.

The report says EACC Vice Chairperson Irene Keino irregularly acquired National Social Security (NSSF) houses, while the Deputy Secretary Operations Michael Mubea earns a salary which is beyond the Salaries and Remuneration Commission's approved structure.

The report, signed by CAJ Chairperson Otiende Amollo, was based on interviews with commissioners and employees of EACC, NSSF, the SRC and others.

CAJ undertook investigations following an anonymous complaint against EACC on alleged impropriety and abuse of power.

The report says Mubea earns Sh780,000 per month, an amount that is beyond SRC's approved salary structure.

It recommends that EACC immediately implements the salary structure for Mubea as advised by SRC vide letter Ref: SRC/TS/ANTI-COR/3/35/7 on December 10, 2013.

"SRC recommended a gross monthly remuneration of Sh400,000 up to Sh550,000 for the Deputy Commission Secretary at EACC Grade 2," the report pointed out.

It advises EACC to immediately recover Sh1,231,392.20 being net salary overpayment to Mubea from January 2014 to March, 2015.

"EACC leadership should take collective responsibility for failing to implement the salary structure for EACC staff as advised by SRC in December 2013," it adds.

Irregular acquisition

On the alleged irregular acquisition of houses by Ms Keino, the report notes that the NSSF board declared 1,581 houses at phase IV and V of Nyayo Estates in Embakasi for sale in 2011.

It says NSSF advertised in newspapers on April 7, 2011, November 9, 2011 and on November 20, 2011 to inform the public about the sale of the 1,581 houses.

The report points out that the deadline for the submission of the duly filled application forms for the purchase of the houses was December 30, 2011.

"NSSF did not put a public notice to inform the general public of the availability of 287 houses for sale, after the December 30, 2011 deadline, thus selective information sharing," it adds.

It claims Keino informally obtained information on the availability of the houses on sale by NSSF two years and three months after the 2011 deadline.

Keino bought two houses, L.R. NO. NBI/BLK 140/529/008 and L.R. NO. NBI/BLK 140/529/019 from NSSF between March 19 and March 21, 2013, the report says.

When contacted, Keino declined to comment on the matter. "I am not saying anything," she said.