E-Clips:- Business Pictorial - Graft Probe Pointed To State Officials

In 2004, an expensive international investigation was launched to uncover the perpetrators of Anglo Leasing.

Inquiries by the Daily Nation reveal that as early as May that year, anti-corruption investigators thought that Vice-President Moody Awori, the Presidents personal assistant Alfred Getonga, Energy minister Kiraitu Murungi, Finance minister David Mwiraria, then Security minister Chris Murungaru, then Home Affairs Permanent Secretary Sylvester Mwaliko, former Finance permanent secretary Joseph Magari, former Security PS Dave Mwangi, city tycoon Deepak Kamani and businessman Jimmy Wanjigi might have been in a position to help them unravel the mystery of the Sh2.7 billion attempted fraud.

The passports project was just one of many similar projects, most of them in the Office of the President, which were either not properly procured or over which doubts had been raised about costs. Allegations have been made against a wide cross-section of political and government leaders:

Mr Moody Awori, Vice-President of the Republic of Kenya

He protests his innocence, but is under fresh investigation by the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACC).

He assured Parliament in 2004 that the Anglo Leasing passports project was proper and intended to earn the Government money from issuance of visas and passports. In March 2004, he is reported to have expressed ignorance of the project, allegedly noting that he made a point of not knowing about such things.

Before he defended the project in Parliament, inquiries indicate, there are reports of efforts by former Governance and Ethics PS John Githongo to persuade the Home Affairs ministry to hold on, lest investigations contradict his statement.

The VP is reported to have shown concern about the investigations and allegedly said at a lunch meeting that since he had explained everything to Parliament, matters should be allowed to lie. Mr Kiraitu Murungi, Minister for Energy

He maintains he is innocent. In an audiotape broadcast on Thursday on BBC radio and TV, he appeared to be applying pressure on Mr Githongo "to go easy" on behalf of a businessman who he believed was building a ship for the Navy.

Allegations made against him include alleged attempts to derail corruption investigations, alleged efforts to press for payment of contracts stopped by investigators and allegedly expressing willingness to use the proceeds of suspect projects to finance politics.

Records show that he said he was acting to protect Mr Mwiraria, Mr Murungaru and Mr Getonga. He is also reported to have said that Mr Murungaru was the chairman of the Resource Mobilisation Committee, charged with raising money for political projects.

Records have him claiming that he and other ministers went to Mr Getonga for money, though nothing was said as to whether he was curious about its source. Mr David Mwiraria, MP for Imenti North and former Finance minister

Resigned, now under fresh investigations by the KACC. Politically accountable for approvals for suspect Anglo Leasing-type contracts. Records show investigators believed he knew more than he was telling. Stressed and under enormous pressure, records show him complaining that he was "being forced to carry someone elses cross."

In June 2004, investigations show that he broke the news that Anglo Leasing had refunded the Sh370 million the Government had paid it. Two days later, those who interacted with him said, he challenged media reports that Sh222 million had been earmarked in the budget for Anglo Leasing, reports which turned out to be true.

In January 2004, he is reported to have claimed to have spoken to the President, who agreed with him that investigators should "go easy" since the money had been paid back.

He told the Nation in 2004 that the Government did not know the owners of suspect fictitious entities. But he was quoted as admitting that it was only after he had allegedly asked acting Treasury PS Joseph Oyula to "get on the phone and call Kamani that Anglo Leasing money was paid back." Dr Chris Murungaru, MP for Kieni and former Cabinet minister

Dropped from the Cabinet in December, the former powerful National Security minister is fighting fresh investigations by the anti-graft watchdog. In a January 20, 2005 meeting, he is reported to have pressed for payments of contracts stopped by investigators.

He is also reported to have said he had interacted with a businessman, whom the minister is reported as believing was carrying out many security projects, including building the Navy patrol boat.

Records of the meeting show him claiming to know Mr Deepak Kamani and also claiming that Mr Kamani was carrying out security projects for the Government, including one for a united national security IT link, contracted out to a fictitious entity called Globetel.

He is also quoted as saying the businessman linked to the Navy boat had supported "us" in 1992, 1997 and 2002 and allegedly "bankrolled" Bomas I. Mr Murungi is said to have claimed that Dr Murungaru was a political "pillar" and acted as though he was protecting him.

Mr Francis Muthaura, Head of Public Service and Secretary to the Cabinet Denies culpability; he is not under investigation. Investigators and those who worked with him during inquiries said he was generally unhelpful and overzealously protective of the Government.

In 2004, he issued a statement that prematurely cleared permanent secretaries and ministers of wrongdoing in the Anglo Leasing scandal, though in actual fact, investigations were casting suspicion on some of them. Subsequently permanent secretaries and other top civil servants were charged.

It was claimed that in April 2004, he wanted the Anglo Leasing investigation stopped to allow the Public Accounts Committee finish its work.

He reportedly asked for a "less aggressive approach" in the Anglo Leasing investigations, following the refund of some of the money. At a meeting with donors in 2004, he maintained that there was no high-level corruption. Mr Alfred Getonga, PA to President Kibaki

He is still in office, is not under investigation and has made no public statement. In 2004, Mr Murungi and Mr Mwiraria are reported to have claimed that Mr Getonga had allegedly expressed fears that he was being investigated over Anglo Leasing.

He is one of the alleged "political pillars" which Mr Murungi is reported to have tried to protect. Records show Mr Murungi claiming that ministers went to Mr Getonga for funds to carry out political projects. Dr Merlyn Kettering, Consultant

He was never interviewed by KACC, his whereabouts are unknown though he could be living in the USA.

A mysterious American, Dr Kettering appears to have been the Mr Fix-It of Anglo Leasing-type deals. He was Anglo Leasings lead consultant in the passports and CID forensic projects. He was also Globetels consultant in the United National Security IT link. Apart from working for the Kamani family, he had also set up his own dummy companies which were given contracts.