Written By Lisa Murimi
Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) Chairperson David Oginde on Thursday accused the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Renson Ingonga, of crippling the war against graft and obstructing his agency from fulfilling its constitutional mandate.
In a brief statement, Oginde criticized the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) for frequently dropping high-profile corruption cases without proper legal justification.
The EACC boss’s remarks came after the DPP withdrew a Ksh 8.5 billion corruption case against former Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala.
“With these kinds of actions, our work is undermined!” Oginde lashed out.
Oginde’s comments follow Balala’s acquittal in the high-stakes corruption case, where the former minister was accused of engaging in procurement fraud.
Oginde asserted that the ODPP’s withdrawal of the case was unwarranted and against the country’s best interests.
Despite initially rejecting the withdrawal, a Malindi court acquitted the accused and ruled that any future attempt to recharge them on the same facts would be an abuse of the court process.
The EACC had opposed the DPP’s bid to withdraw the case, arguing it was against public interest and a setback in the fight against corruption.
“The Anti-Corruption Magistrate declined to admit an affidavit by the EACC investigator opposing the withdrawal,” revealed EACC detectives.
Balala was arrested by EACC on December 22, 2023, and charged with procurement fraud and theft of public funds. His arrest and arraignment followed the DPP’s independent review of the file, which concurred with the EACC that there was sufficient evidence to charge the former CS.
Balala had also been accused of unlawfully acquiring public property contrary to Section 45(1)(a) as read with 48(1) of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act.
“The unfortunate withdrawal of this case by the DPP came on the day the matter was scheduled for a mention to fix a hearing date,” the EACC stated.
