The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has dismissed reports that it has refused to clear Wycliffe Oparanya for his nomination as Cabinet Secretary for Co-operatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development.
In a statement on Saturday, August 3 EACC said it does not have the mandate to clear or var anyone from holding public office.
“The Commission has noted a false narrative being bandied around by a section of leaders that it 'refused to clear Hon. Wycliffe Oparanya for appointment as Cabinet Secretary.' This is not the true position.
“The Commission clarifies that in its role in the integrity vetting of candidates for public office under the current law, the Commission cannot clear or bar anyone from holding any office in the land. It is not within our mandate,” read the statement in part.
The commission pointed out its role in vetting is to provide facts on record regarding the integrity status of each candidate as of the material date, without passing any judgment.
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EACC noted that it has provided facts about other Cabinet nominees to Parliament adding that it will be the role of the National Assembly Appointments Committee to decide on what to do with the commission’s information.
“For more clarity, there is nowhere in our letter to the National Assembly where the Commission recommended that anybody should or should not be cleared or appointed,” EACC stated.
Oparanya is being accused of embezzling Sh1.3 billion from the Kakamega County government during his term in office.
The Cooperatives CS nominee is set to go before the National Assembly Appointments Committee for vetting on Sunday, August 4, 2024.
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