Lobby groups petition EACC to reopen graft probe into CS Oparanya
Civil society groups under the National Integrity Alliance want the EACC and ODPP to act on an October 2 High Court ruling. The court found the DPP's withdrawal of corruption charges against Oparanya unconstitutional.
Anti-corruption groups petitioned the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) on Tuesday. They want Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya investigated again. The groups, working together as the National Integrity Alliance (NIA), want both agencies to implement a High Court judgment delivered on October 2. According to Citizen Digital, the court declared the DPP's 2024 decision to withdraw corruption charges against Oparanya unconstitutional. The EACC had earlier investigated Oparanya and recommended his prosecution. The case concerned alleged kickbacks of KSh 56.7 million from companies that won contracts in Kakamega County while he was governor. The DPP later dropped the charges after receiving representations from Oparanya's lawyers. Kenyans.co.ke reported that the groups also want him charged afresh in a case involving more than KSh 1.3 billion in suspected irregular wealth. The coalition argues that the ODPP acted outside its mandate when it reviewed its earlier decision to prosecute. It also accuses the office of usurping the EACC's investigative role and failing to have fresh evidence independently checked. Transparency International Kenya Executive Director Sheila Masinde said the court had found…
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