A Senate watchdog committee has taken the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to task on why the wheels of investigations on corruption at the devolved units are slow.

This even as the Senate County Public Accounts Committee declared the country crime scene, saying that Kenyans are irredeemably corrupt.

The Anti-Corruption Commission Secretary Abdi Mohamud told the committee that they are conducting investigations across the 47 county governments and the national government.

“The entire country is a crime scene. Is there any county that is not under investigations? Kenyans are irredeemably corrupt,” said committee chair Moses Kajwang’ (Homa Bay).

Kajwang’ told the commission that for instance, a spot check in Turkana showed the county headquarters which had gobbled up Sh800 million stalled with contractor not in site while a foundation of the Governor’s residence had gulped Sh200million.

Kajwang’ questioned why EACC investigations especially in the County governments take more than three to four years before prosecution in the courts of law.

“There is nothing new you are going to preach to Kenyans to stop stealing. Kenyans need to see investigations done within a short time and the culprits convicted,” said Kajwang’.

Kajwang’, said that the Senate cannot investigate, arrest, prosecute or convict yet they are blamed for abetting corruption in the counties.

“Why is it that corruption in counties is getting worse yet the Senate gets to be blamed? We are not seeing investigations and convictions as it should be. It is either EACC is a toothless bulldog or is in bed with the criminals.”

He listed Turkana, Migori, Nyamira, Murang’a, Nairobi, Isiolo, Tana River where the commission have been investigating cases of corruption have not been concluded with few convictions.

“There are illegal payments in legal fees and in own source revenue. The systems are leaking because they are designed to leak. You must restore the credibility of the Senate and the commission,” said Kajwang’.

He went on: “EACC dramatizes some of its arrest. EACC acts as if it is pursuing its agenda other than fighting in corruption. We must demand accountability of all the cases under investigations.”

“Why is it that investigations are not moving with the speed with which you arrest suspects? Is there a deliberate effort by some quarters to cripple institutions of accountability? We have become a talk show as a Senate,” said Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna.

In his response, Mohamud told the committee the biggest challenge is lack of adequate funds to enable the commission hire enough investigators, adding that the staff establishment is 1569 but have only 760, which is 50 per cent of the establishment.

“The biggest challenge is resources in terms of personnel. We have 11 regional offices which cover at least three to four Counties. We have a staff establishment of 1569 but currently we have 760 staff who comprises of investigators and legal counsel who analyze evidence and are the same ones who go to court,” said Mohamud.

In addition, Mohamud told the committee that they requested for a Sh7 billion in allocation but were only given Sh4 billion for operations, an amount he says is not adequate if they are to slay the dragon of corruption both at the counties and at the national government.

According to Mohamud, the anti-graft agency recovered immovable assets worth Sh5 billion and Sh500 million in cash, which was handed over to National Treasury.

In order to address the chronic corruption in the counties, Mohamud now wants parliament to amend the law and establish only one County Public Service Board (CPSB) akin to the Public Service Commission (PSC).

Currently there are 47 county public service boards in each county.

A county public service board (CPSB) is a body that manages the public service in the county, whose duties include establishing offices, appointing people to those offices, and managing human resources.

Already, an amendment bill to the County Governments Act sponsored by nominated Senator George Mbugua seeks to establish a County Public Service Board consultative forum which