Parliamentary committee approves Francis Kimemia’s nomination

By Allan Kisia

Nairobi, Kenya: A Parliamentary committee has overlooked recommendations by the anti-graft body and cleared the Secretary to the Cabinet nominee Francis Kimemia for appointment.

The Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security upon vetting Mr Kimemia recommended that the National Assembly approves his nomination and subsequent appointment to the post.

A report tabled by the chairman of the committeeAsman Kamama said investigations by Ethic and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) on corruption allegations against Kimemia were at a preliminary stage and therefore difficult to draw conclusions.

“The EACC letter was based on initial suspicion of Mr. Kimemia having been involved in the blocking of the suspension of the KAA MD, and the PS, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for their mishandling of the JKIA Greenfield Terminal Project, and in the purchase of the Tokyo property, respectively,” said the report.

The report further said the nominee has been involved in major reforms in the civil service that have been initiated across the country, such as the police reforms and performance contracting in the public service.

“The candidate exhibited impressive knowledge of topical issues especially those touching on public service. He was keen in making positive proposals on how to move the country forward. Kimemia has never been implicated in any known scandal during his official capacity,” it added.

The report noted that Committee received letters from the Kenya Revenue Authority, indicating that the nominee was tax compliant, and the Higher Education Loans Board, stating that the nominee had repaid all the Board’s loans.

It added that the nominee also presented before the Committee his Certificate of Good Conduct.

However, the EACC in response to the Clerk of the National Assembly Justin Bundi’s letter wrote to the Committee, raising concerns that touched on the integrity of the nominee.

“The Committee deliberated on the contents of the letter and resolved that, since the allegations raised were quite weighty, there was need to invite EACC to a meeting to clarify some of the issues alluded to in the letter,” said the report.

The report said the response given by the Commission to the Committee was advisory and cautionary because the subject matters were still under investigations.

“The EACC investigation was on the allegations of blocking the suspension of the two officers,” said the report.

The report noted that Kimemia had never been informed of any allegations before receiving the EACC letter from the Clerk of the National Assembly.

“He had never been asked to record any statement with EACC over claims of abuse of office or corruption,” it added.

The report said the allegations were not in good faith, especially coming at the time of the nomination.