A candidate seeking a job in the new electoral body was Wednesday at pains to fend off corruption allegations while in office.

Mr Ken Nyaundi faced a barrage of accusations, including nepotism and corruption at the Interim Independent Electoral Commission, where he currently works.

The commissioner was asked to explain allegations that he had offered lawyer friends contracts to represent the commission in return for “huge kickbacks”.

The panel also asked him to clear the air on allegations that he influenced the appointment of some employees as well as printing of IIEC T-shirts during the referendum.

He was also accused of conflict of interest by allegedly involving himself in the affairs of the Bomachoge by-election in which his brother, Mr Albert Nyaundi, was a candidate.

Dr Ekuru Aukot, the chairperson of the panel interviewing candidates for posts in the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission piled more misery on Mr Nyaundi when he disclosed he had not paid for his law practice certificate.

“I have a letter from the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) saying you have not paid for your certificate for the years 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996 and 1998,” said Mr Aukot.

Ms Irene Keino, a member of the panel said: “There have been allegations that you contracted lawyers to represent the commission in the hope that they will pay you something.”

Mr Nyaundi denied the allegations. He said he had paid all his dues, including for the practice certificate, to the LSK.

He said lawyers representing the commission had been inherited from the defunct Electoral Commission of Kenya, except Mr Pheroze Nowrojee, who represented them at referendum time.

“I have not received cash from anyone ... we also did not influence the employment of anyone to the commission,” he said.

He, however, admitted knowing one IIEC employee. “She applied like any other Kenyan and was given the job after impressive scores,” he said.

Another aspirant, Mr David Njoka Gachoka, was quizzed on whether his appointment as envoy to Malaysia was in any way associated with the fact that he was a one time executive director of the Democratic Party of Kenya.

He was also asked to explain whether he played a role in a bid to translocate 175 wild animals from Kenya to Thailand as well as the sale of land belonging to Bomas of Kenya to a Thai investor in 2005.

He denied all the allegations.