Retired AIC Bishop Silas Misoi Yego could be considered for the EACC chairmanship. Bishop Yego was the presiding prelate at Rachel Ruto’s wedding to William Ruto in 1991. He retired in December 2019 after serving as the AIC-Kenya presiding bishop for 18 years. He was replaced by Reverend Abraham Mulwa. In his career in the church, Yego rubbed shoulders with high-profile Kenyans, including former President Daniel Moi
Barely a week following the retirement of Archbishop Dr Eliud Wabukala as chairman of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, lobbying for his successor has begun in earnest. To jumpstart the process, the Public Service Commission has advertised the vacancy asking all interested individuals to send their applications before February 2, by 5 pm.
According to the advert, the chairperson of EACC shall be appointed for a single term of six years. “Pursuant to Sections 10(1) of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (Amendment) Act, 2011 (Amended 2015), the Public Service Commission hereby invited applications from suitably qualified Kenyans for the position of Chairperson of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption,” read the notice. Sources say that some of President William Ruto’s allies who lost in the last general elections are lobbying to succeed Wabukhala. However, other sources divulged that top religious leaders are also pushing to have one of their own fill the vacancy. Last week, ACK Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit proposed to President Ruto to appoint more religious leaders into public offices.
The statement according to political analysts was to kick off a debate on Wabukhala’s succession and that the religious leaders were better placed to pick from where Wabukhala left off. Speaking while addressing the media, Ole Sapit said he was happy that the previously appointed leaders followed the constitution and left office when their time elapsed.
“Ata sisi viongozi wa dini tuwekwa, ndio tufanyie wananchi kazi, basi watakua na confidence ya kwamba mtu ambaye amepewa nafasi atafanya kazi yake vilivyo,” he said. This is loosely translated: Even religious leaders, if appointed will work and the public will have confidence that someone in a public office is doing diligent work.
Although it is not known whether Ole Sepit has approached State House on this matter, it is known that he is a close friend of president Ruto. One name has been mentioned as a possible successor to Wabukhala. Retired AIC Bishop Silas Misoi Yego could be considered for the EACC chairmanship. Bishop Yego was the presiding prelate at Rachel Ruto’s wedding to William Ruto in 1991. He retired in December 2019 after serving as the AIC-Kenya presiding bishop for 18 years. He was replaced by Reverend Abraham Mulwa. In his career in the church, Yego rubbed shoulders with high-profile Kenyans, including former President Daniel Moi.
His meeting with the first lady Rachel Ruto at State House in the early day of William Ruto’s presidency raised eyebrows after he was pictured leaving State house carrying a brown envelope. It is being whispered that the clergy could be having him in mind to succeed Wabukhala.
But sections of the clergy also claim that Yego was in Azimio and worked closely with Gideon Moi and that he never supported Ruto’s presidential bid.
