Written by Joyce Nzomo
The National Integrity Alliance (NIA) has called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and MSMEs Development, Wycliffe Oparanya, after a High Court ruling declared unlawful the decision by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to drop corruption charges against him.
In a judgment delivered by Justice B.M. Musyoki, the court found that the DPP acted irregularly, opaquely, and contrary to public interest when it directed that the former Kakamega governor should not face trial.
The court ruled that the DPP had disregarded the investigative mandate of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and instead relied solely on submissions from Oparanya’s legal team.
Justice Musyoki noted that the decision amounted to an unconstitutional usurpation of investigative powers and undermined the fight against corruption.
He emphasized that the DPP must act within the Constitution, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions Act, and the 2019 Guidelines on the Decision to Charge, which do not grant unchecked discretion to terminate cases without consulting investigative agencies.
The ruling comes amid concerns raised by the EACC and the Senate’s County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) that at least 18 high-profile graft cases had been dropped by the ODPP despite credible evidence.
NIA said the judgment validates these concerns, sending a strong signal that selective prosecution and political protection of powerful figures must come to an end.
In response to the ruling, the NIA issued four demands: the immediate arrest of CS Oparanya, the reinstatement of corruption charges in line with EACC findings, an end to the DPP’s unconstitutional interference with investigations, and the restoration of full institutional cooperation between the DPP and EACC.
“This judgment is a victory for accountability, transparency, and the rule of law. It exposes and condemns backroom deals that have shielded powerful individuals from justice. The time for impunity is over,” NIA said in its statement.
