Lobby groups have petitioned the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), demanding fresh action against Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya following a court ruling that invalidated the withdrawal of corruption charges against him.
The groups want the commission to establish the next course of action following the High Court judgment, which declared the Director of Public Prosecutions' (DPP) decision to abandon the earlier prosecution unconstitutional.
The lobby groups operating under the National Integrity Alliance (NIA), led by Transparency International (TI Kenya), Institute for Social Accountability (TISA) and the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) submitted the new demands to the EACC on Tuesday, November 10, at the Integrity Centre in Nairobi.
“The court declared that the ODPP’s decision to review its earlier decision to charge Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya with offences of conflict of interest, money laundering and abuse of office, as communicated in its letter in July 2024, was irregular, unconstitutional and therefore null and void,” Sheila Masinde from TI said.
The lobby groups said their petitions were intended to establish how the judgment would be implemented and ensure that evidence relating to the corruption allegations was properly addressed.
“The petitions are intended to establish what steps will be taken following the judgment, ensure that fresh evidence is appropriately addressed and promote accountability in the handling of subsequent corruption-related matters,”
