Kiraitu And Saitoti Tender Resignations

Two Cabinet ministers caught up in scandals currently enmeshing the Government last night dramatically resigned to allow full investigations. They were Education minister George Saitoti, named as a key figure in the Goldenberg affair, and Energy minister Kiraitu Murungi, who was accused of trying to cover up the Anglo Leasing scandals.

Their resignations – announced on nationwide television by President Kibaki – followed the sudden departure of the Presidents long standing personal aide, Mr Alfred Getonga.

The resignations followed weeks of apparent indecision, during which MPs, pressure groups and international donors all demanded a positive demonstration that even the taint of corruption should not be allowed in Government.

Anyone named adversely in either the Goldenberg report, handed to the President last week, or the report on the Anglo Leasing affair, sent to Mr Kibaki last November, should be invited to step down to allow full investigations, they said.

The resignations also follow a series of exclusive reports in the Daily Nation and Sunday Nation tagged "Anglo Leasing, the Truth", which stripped bare the machinations behind the biggest scandal to envelop the Narc Government since it swept to power in 2002.

Announcing the resignations of both Prof Saitoti – a former Vice-President and Finance minister at the time of Goldenberg, in the Moi regime – and Mr Murungi, who was Justice minister when Anglo Leasing was uncovered, the President said:

"Further to the statement I issued on Thursday, February 9, and after careful consideration, I have accepted the request by Prof George Saitoti to step aside from his responsibilities as minister for Education to pave the way for further investigations into issues raised by the judicial commission of inquiry into the Goldenberg affair. "I have also accepted the Hon Kiraitu Murungis request to step aside as minister for Energy to allow full investigations into allegations made against him on Anglo Leasing.

"I urge all Kenyans to exercise patience as the relevant arms of the Government carry out investigations into these issues," An indication of last nights resignations came when the President addressed the nation on television on February 9 – as he reminded viewers in last nights address – following the disclosures by his former anti-corruption czar John Githongo of the size of the Anglo Leasing type scandals and attempts to cover them up.

Then he promised swift and decisive action on the two scandals. "within the next few days." Mr Murungis resignation came as the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) prepared to return from London after hearing Mr Githongos formal evidence on Anglo Leasing.

The committee had hinted it intended to call Mr Murungi, Vice-President Moody Awori, former Finance minister David Mwiraria, and former Transport minister Chris Murungaru to testify on Anglo Leasing.

Just last week, Mr Murungi had played a cat and mouse game with the media after the broadcasting of what was reported to be a tape recording of his conversation with Mr Githongo in which he apparently tried to get the PS to "go slow" on his investigations into Anglo Leasing type scandals. Just hours before the PAC left for London, Mr Murungi released a list of 36 questions which he expected the PAC to ask on his behalf.

They dwelt at length on issues extraneous to the specific allegations made against him. The PAC said they would not act on the questions, which Mr Murungi said he had faxed to the Kenya High Commission in London. "We are not here to ask questions on behalf of an individual, We are here to act on behalf of Kenyans and the mandate given to us by Parliament," said PAC chairman Uhuru Kenyatta.

Following former Finance minister Mwirarias resignation, and amid calls that he should step aside to allow for investigations into Anglo Leasing, Mr Murungi was insistent that he would not resign ... until last nights announcement by the President.

Former Education minister George Saitoti attended his last public function in that capacity early yesterday morning when he recived 10 computers from UNESCO and announced that all teacherscolleges were to have computers.

During the brief ceremony, attended by PS Karega Mutahi, the minister failed to acknowledge the media and left soon afterwards, evading the Press who were waiting to ask him questions about the Goldenberg report. The Judicial Commission of Inquiry chaired by Court of Appeal judge Samuel Bosire, found Prof Saitoti guilty of wrongdoing in the Goldenberg dealings but left the question of whether or not he should face criminal charges to Attorney General Amos Wako.

The commissioners said nearly all Goldenberg dealings were during Prof Saitotis tenure at the Treasury and that he approved payment of an extra 15 per cent ex-gratia to the company on top of 20 per cent compensation for non-existent gold and diamond exports by Goldenberg International Ltd.

The commissioners ruled: "Almost all Goldenbergs dealings were during Prof Saitotis tenure as Minister for Finance. As Minister for Finance he was answerable to the Cabinet and Parliament on matters touching on the Central Bank of Kenya and Department of Customs and Excise." The resignations bring to four the number of Cabinet casualties from the Anglo Leasing fallout.

Former Transport and Communications minister Chris Murungaru was not reappointed when President Kibaki named a new Cabinet after sending his entire team packing.

The other casualty of the day, President Kibakis long-serving personal aide Alfred Getonga, moved out of State House after the Government refused to renew his contract, it was revealed yesterday.

Mr Getonga, 42 – known to his friends as Alfie – was one of the Presidents closest aides and has often been referred to as a pillar of the Kibaki administration. However, he became tarred by the Anglo Leasing scandal and was named on tape by Mr Murungi as one of the key Narc figures "whom we cant afford to lose."

Hailed as an expert fund raiser, his name was mentioned in connection with contributions made to Narc campaigns by contractors doing business with the Government, particularly in the area of national security