Former Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu (Photo courtesy People Daily Kenya)

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has mounted an inquiry into allegations that Kitui County Public Service Board, working under instructions from Governor Hon. Charity Ngilu, irregularly recruited and subsequently appointed officers to the Manifesto Implementation Unit during the Financial Year 2017/2018.

Investigations established that on 13th November, 2017, the Kitui County Cabinet approved the establishment of the MIU. Investigations further established that on 17th November, 2017, the Kitui Governor wrote a letter to KCPSB seeking appointment of persons to the MIU.

Investigations revealed that on 24th November, 2017, three members of the KCPSB directed the KCPSB Secretary to issue appointment letters to appointees nominated by the Governor to work within the MIU.

KCPSB appointed officers with no interviews conducted

Investigations further revealed that the KCPSB neither advertised nor conducted interviews for the positions, hence contravening the Constitution and the County Governments Act, 2012.

Abuse of Office

A report was compiled and forwarded to the DPP on 11th April, 2023 recommending that the former Kitui Governor and three members of the KCPSB be charged with two counts of abuse of office contrary to section 46 as read with section 48 of ACECA.

On 14th June, 2023, the DPP returned the file for further investigations.

[Source: Kenya Gazette EACC/MCKS/EL/INQ/03/2018]