E-Clips:- Business Pictorial - Githongo Dossier Shocks Uhuru team In London

The Parliamentary team interviewing Mr John Githongo in London yesterday expressed shock at evidence on how high in Government the Anglo Leasing scandal reached. The exiled former PS for Governance and Ethics spent the whole day in a closed door meeting with the Parliamentary Accounts Committee mission led by Opposition leader Uhuru Kenyatta and availed audio tapes and documents containing evidence implicating Cabinet ministers and other high ranking officials in the scandal that has shaken the Kibaki Government.

However, the contents of the tapes given by Mr Githongo were not revealed to the media. Mr Githongo also clarified to the committee that there was no special security arrangements accorded to him by the British government. He offered to return home and testify if his security is assured. Briefing journalists at the end of yesterdays session at 6pm London time, Mr Kenyatta said whatever evidence given by Githongo would be acted upon.

"We are shocked by the amount of information Githongo had. It is astounding the extent of how high the whole scam has gone," said Mr Kenyatta. He said that the Committee is preparing a list of those mentioned in the evidence which will be sent to the Clerk of the National Assembly so that those mentioned can be invited to give evidence. He was accompanied at the hearing by his lawyer, Prof Makau Mutua. The evidence was closed to the media and the public. Even the Kenya High Commissioner in London Mr Joe Muchemi was not allowed in. Meanwhile, Mr Githongo dismissed accusations by a cabinet minister that he was a British spy. "Those are outrageous allegations by the same people who have caused us problems." The spy claims were among 36 questions posed by Energy minister Kiraitu Murungi.

Similar claims have also been made by Kieni MP Dr Chris Murungaru. Yesterday, Mr Githongo told the press that he was well-prepared to face the Public Accounts Committee and tell all he knows on Anglo Leasing. Nimejitayarisha yakutosha (I am fully prepared), he said on arrival at the High Commission. Other members of the committee who travelled to London are Government Chief Whip Norman Nyagah, Mr Zebedeo Opore, Mr Billow Kerrow, Mr Joseph Lagat and Mr Charles Keter. The PAC team it would not accept a set of questions sent by Mr Murungi. Said Mr Kenyatta:

"We are not here on his behalf. What he wants to tell us he should wait for his time with us in Nairobi when we will call him to testify." On the audio tapes aired by the BBC, the committee chairman said they would also ask to be given the tape to listen to and pass it over to those who will investigate the case in Kenya. Mr Kenyatta said the committee would use the two days scheduled for the meetings with Mr Githongo to get all the information they can before returning home and writing a report to be tabled in Parliament when it reconvenes next month.

Mr Githongo

Mr Githongo arrived at the High Commission at 10 am with his lawyer. He spent about five minutes fielding questions from the press before entering the High Commission offices. Due to the standing orders and security reasons, the press was barred from covering the meeting in the High Commission. Mr Kenyatta said it was important to hold the meeting in London to ensure that Mr Githongo felt "secure, unintimidated and free to divulge all the information he has." "We intend to take the shortest time in London, at least two days," he said. Asked how he feels about the session with Mr Githongo, Mr Kenyatta said:

"I am quite eager. Let us call a spade a spade. We believe this is the first time we might have proper information that might help us look into the true kingpins of corruption in our country." Security was tight around the High Commission on Portland Place, in central London. Kenyan High Commissioner Joseph Muchemi and his team arrived at 8 am ready for the meeting which was slated for 9 am, but was delayed by an hour until Mr Githongo arrived. Mr Githongo wore a black suit, lime green shirt and a stripped matching tie. Journalists were not allowed inside the commission and stood in the biting winter outside the building situated next to the highly-guarded Chinese Embassy. Both buildings are near Oxford Circus.

Mr Githongo looked cheerful and relaxed, and greeted Kenyan and international journalists waiting for him outside the High Commission. The PAC team had arrived a few minutes earlier in two High Commission cars, with Mr Kenyatta in the High Commissioners royal blue BMW and the others in a VW van. They broke for lunch at 12.30 pm London time and resumed at 2.00 pm before breaking at 6.00pm. Another session starts this morning at 9.00 am.