When DPP Nordin Haji took office in 2018 as the country’s Director of Public Prosecutions, Kenyans called it a “new dawn”! He epitomized hope and, for a moment, we knew that there was a new sheriff in town and convinced that he was the man to restore the integrity of that docket and bring upon the elusive justice! After all, he is the son of one of Kenya’s few statesmen; the late Mohamed Yusuf Haji.

….and indeed, barely two years into the job, Noordin Haji made a number of high-profile charges that were geared toward enhancing the fight against corruption. The included charges  against
Former Sports Cabinet Secretary (CS) Hassan Wario and ex-National Olympic Committee of Kenya (Nock) official Stephen Soi in 2021. Others include Finance Minister Henry Rotich, Migori Governor Okoth Obado, corruption charges against National Youth Service directors and the banks involved, and charges against the Kenya Power Directors.

Under Haji’s tenure; the historic High Court ruling made on the 25th of July, 2019, in the case of Samburu Governor Moses Lenolkulal, set a precedent for governors facing graft charges to step aside from office for the duration of the case. A sitting Member of Parliament, Sirisia MP John Waluke was also, in June 2020, found guilty of embezzling public funds and fined ksh. 727 million or face a 67-year jail term.

Indeed DPP Noordin Haji was living up to the promise. He restored public trust in the office of Director of Public prosecutions (ODPP), previously held by Keraiko Tobiko.

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions draws its mandate from the Constitution of Kenya 2010 together with the ODPP Act 2013, which gives the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) the powers to direct the Inspector-General of the National Police Service to investigate any information or allegation of criminal conduct.

Alarm as DPP Drops High Profile Graft Cases

Unfortunately, something seems to have changed once President William Ruto and his Deputy Rigathi Gachagua took office. The country has watched in shock and despair as the DPP withdrew high-profile cases touching on politicians aligned with President Ruto. Kenya among them is a Sh7.4 billion graft case against DP Rigathi Gachagua. Others include a Sh400M graft case against former Kenya Power MD Ben Chumo, a 19M graft case against CS Aisha Jumwa, and a Sh80 M graft case against former Samburu Governor Moses Lenolkula.

Transparency International recalls Integrity award to DPP Haji

So alarming is the turn of events at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions that Transparency International Kenya has recalled an Integrity award awarded to DPP Haji in 2019.

According to the group, they had received petitions from the public with allegations relating to Haji’s move to withdraw high-profile corruption cases.

“In light of these concerns and after careful consideration, Transparency International Kenya has made the decision to withdraw the Leadership Integrity Award (State/Public Officer) conferred upon you in 2019, based on our firm belief that maintaining the highest standards of integrity is crucial for all recipients of our awards,” a statement by the lobby group read in part.

Ruto Nominates DPP Haji to NIS

President Ruto has recently nominated the Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji, as the next director-general of the National Intelligence Service (NIS). Haji still has two more years to the end of his eight-year non-renewable tenure.

His recent nomination to head the NIS is not being taken well coming in the wake of the high-profile cases touching on allies of the president that have since been dropped and as the tradition goes in Kenya; the criticism and concerns are now being thwarted by a tribal defense line! Haji’s community has come out to claim that “their son” is being targeted!

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‘Alarm as DPP Drops High Profile Graft Cases‘