How the emerging battle to replace EACC’s CEO has split the system –

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With interviews of the next Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission CEO currently on going, a fierce tug of war has erupted among Kenya’s ruling elite after front-running candidate who is also the EACC deputy chief executive Michael Mubea lost favour among influential government functionaries.

Kenyan News Day reliably learnt that Mubea lost favour after the Director of National Intelligence Service retired Maj Gen Philip Kameru threw him under the bus and instead recommended new comer and former National Police Service Commissioner Mohamed A. Murshid be the system’s man to replace outgoing CEO Halaqhe Waqo.

Murshid was among those supposedly those interviewed by the EACC board on Tuesday, with another batch due to be interviewed yesterday. Frontrunner Mubea, who was expected to slam dunk the appointment as the system candidate, is due to be interviewed with the last batch today.

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The battle to control appointment of the new EACC is being fought at very high levels of government with each camp actively lobbying State House with one camp led by NIS Director Kameru, while another is led by reclusive presidential advisor Nancy Gitau.

Kenyan News Day understands interviews are mere constitutional procedures with the executive expected to have identified its preferred candidate will well in advance as happened during the recruitment of Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji.

The EACC board is expected to award top marks to the candidate of the preference of the state and forward his/her name to parliament – all matters of mere procedure.

Murshid left NPSC last month after serving for six years. He left together with other commissioners including former chairman Johnstone Kavuludi.

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Kenyan News Day was unable to establish the reasons behind change of heart on Mubea’s candidature within the intelligence agencies but sources close to the veteran Deputy CEO informed us he could not be counted out yet.

Those bidding for Mubea include powerful but corrupt government officials who consider him to be easier to do business with in case of graft-related investigations against them.

Murshid on the other hand is seen as the latest push by intelligence agencies to flood independent offices with members drawn from state security apparatus, which is consistent with President Uhuru Kenyatta preferred mode of governance.