BY SAM ALFAN.
Public Service Cabinet Secretary Aisha Jumwa has defended the nomination of Noordin Haji as the Director-general of the National Intelligence Service (NIS).
Speaking through her lawyer Danstan Omari, Jumwa said those opposed to Haji’s nomination have no basis but political witch hunt.
Lawyer Omari said he will be filing affidavits in opposition of a case filed in Nakuru challenging Haji’s appointment.
One of the grounds cited in the petition is Haji’s decision to withdraw charges against Jumwa.
“This is an orchestrated political agenda to stop Nordin Haji from assuming office as NIS director,” he said.
Omari claimed that the Caucus of Civil Society groups are afraid that Haji will obtain intelligence against them, which will ultimately lead to the closure of rogue NGOs.
“Their fear is that once Haji gets to the helm of NIS, he will obtain intelligence and hand it over to law enforcement agencies which will be blocked because their money is not used for the country but goes to their pockets,” he said.
The caucus on Sunday argued that Haji botched the prosecution of mega corruption cases that, if they had been successfully adjudicated to conclusion, the country could have recovered Sh11.3 billion.
The lobby groups, under the banner National Integrity Alliance (NIA), objected to President William Ruto’s nomination of Haji to replace Philip Kameru as the next Director-General of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), saying he had a compromised track record and failed to fulfil his constitutional obligations while serving as the DPP.
Omari, however, questioned the timing of their allegations noting unlike them, he had filed more than 21 petitions for removal of DPP Haji, all of which were dismissed by the court.
“Therefore none of those raising storm now ever challenged Haji when he was in office, what is the reason that they are now trying to challenge his nomination?” he stated.
“It is our considered opinion that the civil societies are raising this issue now because they are in need of funds. It is a money minting exercise so that the donors can send money…nobody raised an issue all this time when Haji was charging or withdrawing cases , they kept quiet , it is a financial commercial endeavor by the civil society to look relevant to attract foreigners,” Omari added.
