The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has escalated its response to Kimilili Member of Parliament Didmus Barasa’s public dismissal of a multimillion scandal investigation.
The commission has vowed to use its full enforcement powers to compel Barasa to comply with recent summonses, amidst rising tensions between the legislator and the anti-corruption body.
The EACC’s decisive action comes after Barasa openly defied its request to appear for questioning.
The commission issued a stern warning, stating, “EACC is vested with appropriate enforcement powers and mechanisms to compel the attendance of an uncooperative suspect who is required to appear before it. No suspect can purport to choose or pretend to enjoy the discretion of whether or not to honour summons by investigative agencies.”
In response, Barasa has challenged the EACC’s authority, expressing his intention to address the matter through civil court rather than complying with the commission’s summons.
Barasa, who has been outspoken against the EACC’s handling of the case, stated, “Let the lady go to the civil court and I will meet her there. For your summons, I will not come. I will not show up. I replied to your officer and indicated not to honour the said summons because the commission cannot be reduced into a debt collection agency.”
Barasa further defended his actions by clarifying that a Ksh2,000,000 deposit into his bank account was a “soft loan” from a politician who had previously run for governor. “I would like to bring to your attention that the deposit of Ksh2,000,000 to my bank account was a soft loan from the said politician who unsuccessfully ran for governor in a county in Kenya on December 13, 2023,” Barasa explained.
The EACC’s response highlights its commitment to upholding the law and ensuring that individuals implicated in corruption are held accountable.
The commission’s statement underscores its position that compliance with investigative procedures is mandatory and not subject to individual discretion.
