The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has blasted Law Society of Kenya President (LSK) Faith Odhiambo over her recent claims that the anti-graft commission was aiding corruption by constantly withdrawing high-profile graft cases.
The LSK president who was speaking during an interview with a local TV station on Thursday, March 28, 2024, faulted EACC for the increased rates of corruption in the country after failing to discharge their mandated duties.
"One institution that has highly failed Kenyans is the EACC. As much as you are saying you are going to run a campaign to end corruption to what end?" Faith posed.
She accused EACC of being hypocritical and slacking at its job by failing to eradicate the vice from within yet it was hell-bent on launching a campaign against corruption.
"If we are seeing an assets recovery body known to be one people feared withdrawing cases left right and centre, it takes judges like Prof Sifuna to stop them on their tracks, then you start telling you are going to run a campaign to stop corruption, it is highly hypocritical," she added.
EACC's response
In a subsequent rejoinder, EACC fired at Faith saying she was ignorant of the country's anti-corruption law enforcement process.
"It is not only shocking but also embarrassing for a person of the standing of the LSK President to display such ignorance of basic facts regarding the anti-corruption law enforcement process in Kenya. Does EACC have the power to withdraw corruption cases of a criminal nature? For civil matters that the Commission takes to court directly, can she state any single case that the Commission has ever withdrawn from court?" the Commission posed.
The commission also clarified that contrary to the lawyer's remarks, LSK had no mandate to withdraw any corruption cases.
"Before appearing for the TV Show, the Panellist, an Advocate of the High Court, should have done some basic research to familiarize herself with Kenya’s anti-corruption law enforcement processes and related contemporary issues such as which agency or agencies have withdrawn graft cases,
"Counsel is also sensitized that contrary to her false assertion that EACC withdraws cases, the Commission is in court opposing withdrawals that it considers inimical to public interest, and will continue to do so," EACC added.
