E-Clips:- Business Pictorial - Anglo Leasing - Githongo Concludes Evidence

The Parliamentary Accounts Committee (PAC) finished collecting evidence from former anti-graft czar, John Githongo, in London on Sunday night and will now compile a list of politicians and civil servants to be grilled over the Sh7 billion Anglo Leasing scandals. PAC chairman Uhuru Kenyatta said those mentioned would be accorded a chance to give their side of the story. "It is from the evidence given by Githongo that we will compile a list of those to be questioned once we return home," he said. Uhuru said the trip had been fruitful, adding that Githongo had given them useful information that would assist in Kenya’s fight against corruption. Those to be grilled by the committee are Cabinet ministers, Permanent Secretaries and Members of Parliament. "There is a lot more to be deduced from Githongo, but we will cross the bridge when we get there," he said.

The committee, Uhuru said, had received a lot of evidence from Githongo, which he said was credible. The committee members are expected to return home immediately after compiling the evidence. Massive pressure Earlier, London remained the focus of investigations into the scandals as the PAC listened to Githongo’s testimony for the second day running. Yesterday’s session progressed despite the bad weather, which forced journalists, who had pitched camp outside the Kenya High Commission building where the historic meeting was going on, to relocate.

Githongo continued giving crucial evidence on the scandals, which have rattled the Kibaki administration forcing the resignation of Finance minister David Mwiraria and dropping from the Cabinet of former Transport minister Chris Murungaru – both confidants of the President. The scandals have also turned the spotlight on Vice President Moody Awori, Energy Minister Kiraitu Murungi and the Head of Civil Service, Francis Muthaura, who by virtue of their offices could help in unmasking the "ghosts’’ who received and secretly wired back millions after the red flag was raised. Both Awori and Kiraitu have remained defiant in the face of massive pressure to step aside to pave way for independent investigations. Standard Group journalist Alex Chamwada, who is in London, said the team was kept busy till later in the evening. The committee flew to London last Thursday where Githongo, who is accompanied to the PAC sittings by his legal advisor Prof Makau Mutua, has so far implicated senior Kenyan Ministers and key officials in the Kibaki administration in the multi-million shilling scams.

Closed-door meeting The PAC meeting was held in camera in accordance with regulations that govern proceedings of parliamentary committees. The Committee members will now fly back home to question ministers and other Government officials implicated in the scandals before preparing a report to be presented to Parliament when it re-opens. Last Wednesday, Githongo had given an interview to the British Broadcasting Corporation and released an audiotape in which Kiraitu was heard imploring him to go slow on the investigations.

The PAC team in London consists of Shadow Finance Minister Billow Kerrow, Lamu West MP Fahim Twaha, Eldoret East MP John Lagat, Government Chief Whip Norman Nyaga, Bonchari MP Zebedeo Opore and an official form the Controller and Auditor General’s office. After its first sitting on Saturday, Uhuru said the evidence of alleged Government corruption shocked the Committee. The Committee also rejected a set of 36 questions sent to Githongo by Kiraitu as part of his defence. Uhuru said it was not their business to ask Githongo Kiraitu’s personal questions, adding that the minister would have to ask his questions at the right forum.

Githongo dismissed as outrageous, claims by Kiraitu and Murungaru that he was a spy for the British Government. "That’s an outrageous allegation, totally outrageous remarks made by the same people who have caused us problems," he told journalists after the Saturday sitting.