Cooperatives and MSME Development Cabinet nominee Wycliffe Oparanya Sunday defended himself before the National Assembly Appointments Committee against graft allegations leveled against him by Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission (EACC).
Oparanya told the committee that the allegations against him are unfounded arguing that he has not been called to record a statement about it.
In a letter to the clerk of the National Assembly, EACC claims that Oparanya had acquired money through questionable means when he served as Kakamega Governor.
EACC raided the former ODM party leader’s homes in Nairobi and Kakamega on 23rd of August 2023 where it claimed to have acquired documents linking him to the graft.
However Oparanya rubbished EACC allegations saying that he is not even aware of what he’s being accused of and that he only get reports of the allegations from the media.
“I have never been called to write a statement. I don’t even know what I am bein accused of. I just read {about the allegations} on the papers as you read it,” Oparanya told the MPs.
EACC and ODPP disagreement
It has emerged that anti-corruption commission and Office of Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP) are in disagreement on whether to charge the former governor or not. The EACC claims that it has sufficient evidence that the Oparanya has a case to answer while ODPP argues that there is no such evidence.
EACC insists that last year the ODPP had agreed to proceed with charging Oparanya but wonders how the same office is making a U-turn on the case. While there are allegations that the EACC made a decision to level charges against Oparanya after he was nominated for a cabinet slot, the anti-graft commission said that the case was active way before Ruto picked him to join his cabinet.
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EACC CEO Twalib Mbaraka stated: “The Commission is of the strong view that the evidence obtained, and availed to your Office, is cogent enough and meets the necessary threshold of proof beyond any reasonable doubt. In view of the foregoing, the Commission reiterates its earlier recommendation to charge ALL the suspects as communicated vide our letter dated December 4 2023 and concurred with by yourself in a letter dated December 18 2023.”
The appointment committee Sunday concluded the vetting of cabinet nominees and set to write a report which will be tabled in parliament for discussions before the nominees are okayed to be CSs or thrown out.
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