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The National Assembly has approved the nomination of Noordin Haji as Director of the National Intelligence Service (NIS) to replace Philip Kameru.

This is following recommendations by the Defence and Intelligence Committee.

Budalang’i MP Raphael Wanjala was the only legislator in the committee who opposed Haji’s nomination as NIS boss.

“This House approves the appointment of Mr Noordin Haji OGW CBS as the Director General of the National Intelligence Service,” Speaker Moses Wetang’ula said, paving the way for Haji’s appointment meant and subsequent swearing-in.

Haji is now set to return to NIS where he previously served as the Deputy Director of the Counter Organised Crime Unit.

President William Ruto nominated the outgoing director of public prosecutions as NIS boss on May 16, 2023.

Haji’s nomination opposed

Some civil organisations, however, opposed the nomination, saying Haji is not fit to replace Kameru as the next spymaster.

The lobby groups, under the banner National Integrity Alliance (NIA), argued that Haji failed to fulfil his constitutional obligations while serving as the DPP.

The caucus argued that Haji led the botched prosecution of mega corruption cases that, if they had been successfully adjudicated to conclusion, the country could have recovered Sh11.3 billion.

Criminal cases

The organisations said Haji blatantly failed to adhere to provisions of Article 157 of the Constitution, which prohibits commencement and/or withdrawal of criminal cases due to influence, coercion, consent or authority of any person.

The Organisations – Transparency International Kenya (TI-K), Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), The Institute for Social Accountability (TISA) and Inuka Kenya Ni Sisi – said in the past eight months only, Haji had withdrawn at least eight graft cases involving certain politically connected individuals.

“A number of these individuals have been appointed to executive positions, which raises doubts about DPP’s impartiality and his commitment to fighting corruption –a pervasive problem that continues to hinder Kenya’s progress,” NIA said.Some of the cases include the Sh1.1 billion against Geoffrey Mwangi former CEO NHIF, and 17 others; the Sh7.3 billion against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and nine others; and Sh2.2 billion against the Communications Authority chairperson Mary Wambui. Others are Sh19 million graft case against Public Service CS Aisha Jumwa; Sh400million case against Ben Chumo and others; and Sh159million against Dr Ken Tarus and eight others, among others. “If the eight cases listed above had been adjudicated to a conclusion, and successfully, Kenyans would have recovered about Sh11.3 billion let alone time and resources spent in the adjudication process which could have aided in dispensing other cases at the judiciary,” they said.

Haji’s nomination was also challenged in court by a Nakuru-based lawyer.