Documents emailed to us by an anonymous source, which were also shared with the Office of the President and EACC Chairman Dr. David Oginde, among others, paint a troubling picture of CEO Twalib Mbarak’s tenure. Allegations suggest that Mbarak and Muhammud engaged in a series of underhanded business dealings, including the manipulation of staff recruitment processes, favouritism based on religious affiliation in tender awards, and even the intimidation and firing of employees who opposed their stronghold on the commission
Part One
The nomination of Abdi Muhammud as the next Chief Executive Officer of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) is under scrutiny following allegations by a whistleblower of his involvement in questionable dealings alongside outgoing CEO Twalib Mbarak at the Commission. The National Assembly’s Justice and Legal Affairs Committee is scheduled to review Mr Muhammud’s nomination tomorrow, the 3rd of December 2024, ahead of Parliament’s two-month recess.
In a detailed dossier, the whistleblower has accused Muhammud of being involved in a series of unethical dealings alongside outgoing CEO Twalib Mbarak, alleging corruption, power struggles, and influence peddling within the commission.
Documents emailed to us by an anonymous source, which were also shared with the Office of the President and EACC Chairman Dr. David Oginde, among others, paint a troubling picture of CEO Twalib Mbarak’s tenure. Allegations suggest that Mbarak and Muhammud engaged in a series of underhanded business dealings, including manipulating staff recruitment processes, favouritism based on religious affiliation in tender awards, and even the intimidation and firing of employees who opposed their stronghold on the commission.
The whistleblower’s account details the wrongful removal of senior staff members, including Robert Wachira, Enock Otiko, and Willis Wasala, all of whom were allegedly ousted following a dispute over a Ksh 250 million tender for the refurbishment of the EACC headquarters, the Integrity Centre building. The document further alleges that Muhammud sponsored bidders for a Ksh 180 million tender and leveraged his position to ensure that the outcome benefited his interests, using threats and intimidation tactics against those who resisted.
In a shocking twist, the whistleblower also accuses Mbarak and Muhammud of involvement in the irregular acquisition and refurbishment of the Integrity Centre at a cost of Ksh 1.5 billion. It is alleged that Muhammud, through proxy contractors, personally benefitted from these deals, including a Ksh 16 million tender for re-roofing and painting the building.
Further accusations paint a portrait of a deeply entrenched culture of corruption within the EACC, with Mbarak and Muhammud accused of inflating the commission’s budget, promoting family members and close associates, and facilitating unauthorized payments amounting to hundreds of millions. The explosive claims also include disturbing allegations of personal misconduct involving Mbarak’s relatives and romantic partners. As the spotlight falls on Abdi Muhammud’s nomination to head the EACC, these revelations raise serious questions about his suitability to lead the body entrusted with tackling corruption.
