Interior Cabinet Secretary nominee Kithure Kindiki on Tuesday, October 18, defended his law firm, Kithure Kindiki & Associates, from claims that it allegedly received a Ksh15 million payout from a company involved in the National Youth Service (NYS) scandal.
While appearing before the National Assembly Committee on Appointments for vetting, the Interior CS nominee was put to task by the leader of the minority, Opiyo Wandayi, to verify the claims of allegedly receiving two payments; Ksh500,000 and Ksh15 million.
In a rejoinder, Kindiki explained that the Ksh500,000 payment was money his colleague, Transport CS nominee Kipchumba Murkomen, owed him.
He further dispelled claims of his firm receiving the Ksh15 million payment and urged the MPs to disregard the malicious allegations.
"I have practised law for 22 years, I have never been involved in any professional misconduct whatsoever. Concerning the report, reference was made to a payment made to my law firm of Ksh500,000 - that payment was not made by any company, let alone the firm which supplied to NYS. That payment was made by Kipchumba Murkomen.
"He owed me Ksh500,000. I sought him to pay me back, and he wrote me a cheque, that's it. To the Ksh15 million, I am not aware, I think he's (Opiyo) confusing my law firm with another," he stated.
In a back-and-forth between Kindiki and Wandayi, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula intervened and sought clarification from the ODM politician.
Wandayi recanted his earlier statement and clarified that Kindiki's law firm was not involved in the Ksh15 million payment.
"I had a debtor-creditor relationship with Murkomen, he paid me using a cheque. Where he got the money, I don't know and I will never know," Kindiki further explained.
Promises
Kindiki pledged to free the country from criminal cartels, bandits and terrorists as part of his first assignment should he be approved by the committee.
"As soon as I take office, the first assignment is to ensure we set free this country from criminals, bandits, terrorists and cattle rustlers but not through press conferences," he noted.
The Interior CS nominee also noted that the Kenya Kwanza administration would not use police officers to play a factor in politics.
"The President already pronounced publicly that it is not the intention of this administration to use Police officers to do politics. From that pronouncement I will refrain from interfering in any way with the independence of the police," he stated.
Kindiki noted that he would fully capitalise on the counselling unit to aid police officers in coping with work-related stress.
"I believe the problem around mental illness among officers is linked to work-related stress. I intend to equip, expand and fully capitalise on the counselling unit and link to the soon establish Kenya police and Kenya prisons hospital.
