ODM leader Raila Odinga has said the proposed motion by Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro to clip the DPP’s powers is ill-advised.
Speaking in Likoni on Tuesday, Raila warned that the move will derail the war on graft.
“We want to remove Kenya from the corruption index but there is an MP who is not doing anything. Rushes to parliament to clip the powers of the DCI,” he said.
Raila wondered aloud whether the MP was of sound mind.
“Huyo mbunge akili yake ni timamu kweli…si ameshikwa na wendawazimu huyo? wakati watu wako ndani ya vita wewe unaona upunguze nguvu ya DCI na DPP,” he said.
This loosely translates to, “Is that MP really of sound mind? Hasn’t he lost his mind? While some are fighting graft, you are trying to clip the DCI’s and DPP’s powers.”
Raila continued, “Unaona upuguze nguvu ya DCI umpige pingu..hakuna mwenye ameshtakiwa.. uchunguzi inaendelea na umeanza kulia ati uchunguzi inakulenga na hakuna mwenye amekutaja…kama umeiba ingia kule mara moja.. ukiona jirani ananyolewa tia maji chako kichwa.”
This loosely translates to, “You see it fit to handcuff the DCI. No one has been implicated, investigations are ongoing and there you are crying that investigations are targeting you yet no one has mentioned your name. If you have stolen, go in. When you see your neighbour being shaved, know you’re next in line.”
Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji protested against the plot to trim his powers to investigate and prosecute.
Haji said the office of the DPP was neither consulted nor informed of the proposal by Nyoro. The plan did not emanate from his office.
The DPP said in a letter to the Speaker of the National Assembly Justin Muturi that his office ought to have been consulted “being the one with the sole constitutional mandate to superintend and supervise all prosecutions”.
Nyoro also wants the DPP’s powers of entering into plea bargaining deals with graft suspects to be handed over to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).