The failed attempt by EACC officials to arrest two detectives from the DCI, that led to a shootout, was just a culmination of a war that has been brewing for a long time.
In most of the recent cases involving high profile suspects, the DCI has been leading the investigations and arrests.
According to The Standard, DCI George Kinoti's office feels that EACC performed dismally despite being funded better than his department.
In July, EACC Vice Chairperson Sophia Lepuchirit sought to have the police barred from investigating corruption cases because the force has been tainted with bribery claims.
‘In every integrity survey that is done, the police department is always top on matters corruption and this means that they cannot be trusted to fight graft,” she stated.
In August 2018, EACC Chairman Eliud Wabukala led the commission’s officials to State House as fears intensified that President Uhuru Kenyatta had lost confidence in the agency.
They feared that the President was leaning more towards the DCI in his renewed fight against corruption which he would like to be remembered for.
For close to a year, the DCI has worked hand in hand with the Director of Public Prosecutions in graft investigations that seemed to exclude the EACC.
The DCI is also rubbing shoulders the wrong way with EACC because Kinoti’s office is investigating the irregular acquisition of Integrity Centre which houses the commission.
The building was bought at Kshs1.5 billion even after its true value was put at Kshs 400 million.
There is fear among members of the public that the turf war could hamper the fight against graft.
