The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) on Tuesday barred reporters from covering the body's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) interviews.
Speaking over the issue, the reporters’ spokesman Yasin Amaro revealed that his efforts to give members of the fourth estate access were thwarted with a response that they would be briefed after the process had come to a close.
The EACC’s decision caught the eye of various organisations with the most notable being the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), which lobbies for good governance, questioning its legality.
According to Nation, ICJ Executive Director Samwel Mohochi stated that the recruitment process could have been a better example of transparency in the country.
He further explained that EACC, a commission tasked with fighting graft in the country, could not demonstrate that it was at the forefront in the war against corruption by being transparent.
“We cannot have any law that says the media is not allowed, because we are all about trying to promote transparency of not only the process but the outcome.
“Recruitment to the office of Chief Executive Officer of the EACC should showcase our national intent to tackle vices that include patronage, corruption, nepotism,” stated Mohochi.
The interview process, which commenced on Tuesday, November 27, was aimed at finding a suitable replacement to Halakhe Wako as well as strengthen the commission’s fight against graft.
The commission, whose interviews were slotted to close on Thursday, November 29, shortlisted 14 names from the 71 applicants that were interested to take over the mantle.
Five of the candidates were to be interviewed on Tuesday.
