E-Clips:- Business Pictorial - After The Githongo Dossier New Report Turns The Heat On Kibaki

After months of skirting around the saga, the matter has finally exploded at the feet of President Kibaki – he knew about Anglo Leasing.

That particular finding by the Public Accounts Committee was not actually knew. The extent to which the President was informed had already been made public in the Githongo dossier. The difference this time is that the PAC report is an official document. It will be debated in Parliament, and if adopted, the onus will be on the Kibaki Government to act on the recommendations. The report tabled last week by Opposition leader Uhuru Kenyatta delicately skirts the matter of specific recommendations on President Kibaki – on whether his role should be investigated further or whether he should be censured, for instance. But the very fact that the President and his principal deputy, Vice-President Moody Awori, are named raises again the issue of just how high up in the Kibaki Government Anglo Leasing and associated scandals went. Can the Government investigate itself or rather its two senior most officers? Is there any hope that Anglo Leasing will be pursued to a logical conclusion? And what might be the political repercussions with elections due next year?

Answers to some of these questions largely depend on how the Government moves to wriggle out of the weighty scandal. The real struggle begins with a likely onslaught in Parliament against adoption of the PAC report. The report concurred that the President knew about the scandal, as reported by former Governance and Ethics Permanent Secretary John Githongo. In its report to Parliament, PAC acknowledges Mr Githongos evidence that he regularly briefed President Kibaki on Anglo Leasing and related contracts from the time the scam became the subject of a parliamentary query. That adequate information was provided to the President was confirmed in testimonies by the Head of the Public Service, Mr Francis Muthaura, and former Finance minister David Mwiraria, the report said. Outside the PAC report, there was former Internal Security minister Chris Murungaru, who publicly stated in January that the controversial award of a Sh4 billion naval tender to a Spanish firm was sanctioned by the President himself.

The revelation caused shockwaves at State House; and curiosity among observers who might be looking for more of President Kibakis once firm allies to point more fingers in his direction. Indeed, the claim by Dr Murungaru, who was dropped in December, increased the pressure on President Kibaki. The subsequent revelations by Mr Githongo led to the exit, in quick succession, of Mr Mwiraria, Energy minister Kiraitu Murungi and the Presidents personal assistant, Mr Alfred Getonga. Education minister George Saitoti left soon after being implicated in the Moi-era Goldenberg scandal. On resigning, Mr Mwiraria pointedly stated that he was stepping aside to save the image of the country and the President. But from Dr Murungaru and Mr Murungi, one detected a lot of bitterness.

Throughout his evidence, Mr Githongo seems baffled at the Presidents reactions to a number of issues, his good grasp and interest of the goings-on, yet sometimes apparent indifference over the entire saga. In an even intriguing drama, the President supposedly transferred Mr Githongo from State House to Justice and Constitutional Affairs, then under Mr Murungi. An investigation was promised, but nothing seems to have come out of it.