ITS LUMUMBA FOR KACC

The Parliamentary Select Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs has settled on renowned lawyer PLO Lumumba as the director of the Kenya Anti Corruption Commission.

The committee has also selected city lawyer Pravin Bowry as assistant director legal services and Prof. Janet Onsongo as assistant director Research and preventive services.

The three will however have to face the scrutiny of parliament when the report tabled Thursday by the committee detailing how they were selected is debated.

The committee is seeking the approval of parliament before the names are finally forwarded to President Mwai Kibaki who is the appointing authority for gazzettment .

The Abdul Kadir led committee in its reports said it received 63 applicants for the position of KACC director left vacant after parliament rejected the reappointment of Justice Ringera who subsequently resigned and short listed only eight.

The report said it settled on PLO Lumumba even after an objection by nominated MP George Nyamweya based on the fact that he vied for the Kamkunji parliamentary seat and lost in the 2007 elections.

According to the committee the anti corruption and Economic Crimes act only bars a staff from engaging in politics after appointment and that Lumumba was no longer an official or member of any political party hence was best suited to head the anti graft body.

Bowry was selected from 45 applicants based on his experience in constitutional matters spanning 38 years of service as a lawyer.

Prof. Onsongo was picked from 97 applicants based on her knowledge in public administration.

Onsongo was a director department of research at Catholic University of East Africa.

The committee said in selecting the three applicants it relied on the due diligence and transparency and all the requisite laws were followed.

Parliament will now debate the report to either endorse of reject the names of the three.