Kissinger to IEBC vetting panel: My integrity is unquestionable

Francis Kissinger when he appeared before the IEBC Selection Panel for the interview on March 25, 2025/LEAH MUKANGAI

IEBC chairperson contender Francis Kakai Kissinger has defended his integrity in light of scrutiny over allegations levelled against him in the past.

Kissinger who on Tuesday appeared before the IEBC Selection Panel for vetting was asked about the circumstances that led to his dismissal from the Judiciary.

“My integrity is unquestionable. If I knew, by any reason, that my integrity was questionable, I would not have applied for this job,” he told the vetting panel.

Kissinger said he is a clean man and equal to the task as he eyes the top job at the electoral agency.

“I applied knowing very well with clarity of mind that I will walk the path of truth. I said I will come here and tell the panel what transpired.”

He argued that being taken to court or facing allegations in public service does not necessarily imply guilt.

Addressing claims of an irregular payment of Sh46 million for construction of courts in Mavoko, Kissinger who had been implicated among others, told the panel that he was cleared by courts of any wrongdoing.

“In public service, you serve and while you are serving you don’t understand what will hit you. The only thing that saves you is sticking with the law and staying with the law,” he said.

“A rumor can come in the public service to completely finish your career but the truth stays straight and narrow. In the long run, I was vindicated,” he stated.

Kissinger also shed light on the alleged procurement of a multi-million house for the Chief Justice.

He explained that the issue stemmed from the absence of a required Cabinet memo at the time.

Kissinger noted that the matter was also later withdrawn when the memo was located.

“We had just come into that institution with the exit of President Mwai Kibaki; this was a new administration. When there is a change in government it takes forever to get them (memo), so when that memo was finally found where it was, it spoke the truth,” he said.

When asked whether he resigned or was dismissed, Kissinger said: “When you are serving in the public service and such allegations come in, definitely you will be told to go until you are cleared.”

On whether he sought legal redress after the dismissal, Kissinger said he decided to forgive and let it go.

He added that for the last 10 years, there have been no further complaints raised against him and that there exists no active case in court.

Kissinger was among four candidates who were lined up for grilling on the second day of the interviews.

Former Turkana County Attorney Erastus Ethekon was the first to appear in the morning.

Others to appear are Jacob Muvengei and Joy Brenda Masinde.

On Monday, four candidates - Abdulqadir Lorot, Charles Nyachae, Anne Amadi and Edrward Ngeyaa were interviewed.

A total of 11 candidates were shortlisted for the position of IEBC chairperson previously held by the late Wafula Chebukati.

The exercise will end on Wednesday and pave way for 105 persons shortlisted as commissioners to commence on Thursday.