The future of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) is set to take a new direction as Abdi Ahmed Mohamud has been nominated as the next Chief Executive Officer (CEO), following the end of Mr Twalib Mbarak’s term.
The nomination, announced on Friday, now awaits approval from the National Assembly.
According to EACC Chairman David Oginde, the nomination of Mr Mohamud follows a competitive selection process in which he emerged as the best candidate from 14 shortlisted applicants.
Mr Mohamud, who has been serving as the EACC Deputy CEO, brings over 30 years of experience as an investigator, and his nomination is now subject to vetting by the National Assembly, in accordance with legal requirements.
“The nominee’s details will now be forwarded to the National Assembly for vetting and consideration,” Dr Oginde confirmed.
The EACC had received 172 applications for the position by the deadline of October 7, 2024, from which the 14 candidates were shortlisted.
Mr Mohamud, who had previously served in senior roles within the commission, triumphed over other senior staff including Mr Vincent Omari Okongo, Mr David Kiplagat Ruto Too, and Mr Jackson Kaunda Mue, all of whom also applied for the position.
The shortlist also included several high-profile figures such as Deputy Controller of Budget Stephen Masha Ngowa, and Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Deputy CEO Obadiah Kipkoech Keitany.
Other notable applicants included former IEBC commissioner Boya Molu and Media Council of Kenya CEO David Omwoyo.
Should the National Assembly approve Mr Mohamud’s nomination, he will become the third CEO of the EACC since the 2010 Constitution was promulgated, following in the footsteps of his predecessors, Halakhe Waqo and Twalib Mbarak.
Mr Mbarak’s term is set to end in January 2025, after which Mr Mohamud will face significant challenges in his new role.
Among the key issues awaiting the new CEO will be the ongoing tension between the EACC and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), especially regarding the withdrawal of corruption cases.
EACC has been vocal in opposing the DPP’s decisions to drop high-profile corruption cases, an issue that President William Ruto addressed during his State of the Nation speech, calling out the DPP and the Judiciary for enabling corruption.
Another pressing challenge for Mr Mohamud will be addressing the low conviction rates and the backlog of corruption cases within the EACC.
The agency is also dealing with an investigation into over 2,000 cases involving government officers using fake academic certificates, a major concern in the public service.
