Haji on the spot over hiring, firing claims at DPP office
The Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji is on the spot, over how he allegedly kicked out competent and long-serving prosecutors and replaced them with novices.
Consequently, an activist-Charles Rubia Waithaka is urging investigative organs to probe Haji over the matter.
Waithaka has expressed concern over how the DPP is running the office and allegedly ruining the careers of senior prosecutors, by transferring them to the Attorney General’s office, where they are seconded to do desk work for ministries.
Highly compromised
“Haji has systematically transferred experienced prosecutors and in effect denying the public the best prosecution services and putting serious cases in jeopardy at the hands of inexperienced prosecutors,” Waithaka says in his petition.
Following this hiccup in the administration at the DPP’S office, Waithaka has presented a petition to the Public Service Commission (PSC) adding his voice to the many petitions seeking removal of Haji from office.
The activist questions the elevation of junior prosecutors to high positions in violation of the Constitution, which requires that promotions be based on career path and performance.
Among those deployed to ministries is Nicholas Mutuku who was the prosecutor in the multi-million shillings Anglo-Leasing case, the Willy Kimani murder trial, child theft case against televangelist Gilbert Deya among other high ranking criminal cases.
Further, Waithaka is questioning how private practising lawyers were appointed to prosecute cases of monumental value like the Sh63 billion Arror and Kimwarer dams saga against former Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich. The case is being prosecuted by a private practising lawyer Taib Ali Taib.
“The recruitment, welfare and working environment of the staff of the office of the DPP has greatly deteriorated and has been highly compromised,” reads the petition.
In what three counsels Danstan Omari, Cliff Ombeta and Shadrack Wambui termed as bedroom issues in the closet of Haji, the PSC is being asked to expedite the removal of Haji from office due to gross misconduct and incompetence.
The activist says that from 2018 to date, procedures and qualifications have just been reduced to procedures on paper.
He alleges that the recruitment process of staff at DPP’s office has become a shambolic exercise full of corruption, nepotism, tribalism adding that Haji has since had the final decision on who is recruited.
“That in the last four years after the appointment of Haji, we have seen the office slowly changing, and now the office of the DPP is tainted with corrupt and malicious practices, favouritism, nepotism, tribalism, misuse and abuse of office, gross misconduct and a high degree of incompetence,” Waithaka says in his petition.
While addressing the Media at the Milimani law courts, Omari said he was urging the High Court to lift orders which are restraining the PSC from acting on the petitions filed against Haji. This case is listed for hearing today before Justice James Makau.
