The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) boss Philip Kinisu has declared he will not resign or step aside over his alleged involvement in a scandal, a move he described as malicious and orchestrated to discredit him.
Kinisu defended his six-month tenure at the anti-graft body while declaring his respect for the rule of law, which he said should not be used to intimidate him.
Kinisu said the allegations over his dealings with the National Youth Service (NYS) and a non-governmental organsation he heads are malicious.
He was categorical that resigning would set a terrible precedence, and also, he would be acting on false information.
He said a conspiracy has been engineered to malign his name, adding that he is not aware of any EACC standard dictating that officers faced with allegations should step aside and neither does it exist in law.
The chairman added that there is a conspiracy between a civil society group — Bunge la Mwananchi — which brought the matter to the limelight and other individuals already being investigated for corruption by the commission. “Investigations should go ahead but I will not resign to give way to those who want to misuse the law,” said Kinisu.
With regards to Bunge la Mwananchi, Kinisu raised concern over the manner in which the group had in its possession, information of a confidential nature from government institutions.
Allegations of money laundering reportedly amounting to Sh5 billion, non-compliance with government regulations and non-accounting of donor funds have been levelled against African Population and Health Research Centre (APHRC), which Kinisu chairs.