Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Noordin Haji on Tuesday, December 17, picked a fight with Siaya Senator James Orengo over a case involving the KPA Managing Director Daniel Manduku.
Reports from the Daily Nation indicated that the DPP sought court orders barring the Siaya senator from representing Manduku in court citing conflict of interest.
Manduku and other officials from the KPA are facing up to 22 charges related to graft to a tune of Ksh1.4 billion, abuse of office, and engaging in procurement processes without an approved budget.
The amount was reported to have been misappropriated through the irregular issuance of purchase orders and declaration of bills of quantities for the manufacture of 17,940 pieces of concrete barriers.
The DCI's argument comes just days after the President told legislators to cease representing clients who have been implicated in graft charges.
The President had stated that such actions amounted to a serious conflict of interest which in his opinion, was against the core principles of public service.
“Our constitutional order is a jealous one. It demands that a public officer serves no other master but it. It is not right for legislators who make laws in Parliament and move forward to represent accused persons in a court that will use the same laws to issue a judgment,” the president stated.
He had ordered the public servants to choose a side to stand on, and to ensure that they were not serving two masters at the same time.
“You either serve the public in your role as an MP or senator or resign to go serve as a private practitioner, not both. You cannot be elected at the national and county level but still be a practicing lawyer,” he had stated.
On November 30, 2019, Manduku, through his lawyer James Orengo, moved to court and successfully managed to obtain temporary orders to stop his arrest and prosecution based on police investigation and recommendations.
