E-Clips:- Business Pictorial - Kiraitu Censured Over Claim On Anglo Leasing

The Government lacks the political will to tackle the Anglo Leasing scandal, an anti-corruption watchdog said yesterday. The sentiments by Transparency International (Kenya) were also echoed by nominated MP Mutula Kilonzo who said that Justice minister Kiraitu Murungi had failed to provide a clear policy on the matter.

The watchdog criticized Mr Murungi for playing down the significance of the Anglo Leasing affair by describing it as "the scandal that never was". Mr Murungi had claimed that the matter had been blown out of proportion since no money had been lost.

But Ms Gladwell Otieno, IT Kenyas executive director said: "The minister has in effect insulted the intelligence of Kenyans in light of what has entered the public domain. Kenyans will not be satisfied with the ministers glib statements."

She said the minister was moving in the wrong direction by trying to convince Kenyans that a matter that was still under investigation was "a non-issue". "Until we see the culprits in the dock answering for their actions, Kenyans will remain unconvinced about the Governments capacity and political will to deal with corruption in its own ranks," she said.

Ms Otieno recalled that President Kibakis special adviser on corruption, Mr John Githongo, had said that Kenyans and donors would judge the Government on how it dealt with the scandal. He said the scandal was "a millstone" on the neck of the Government.

Since the scandal was uncovered in April last year, two permanent secretaries involved in the deals have been replaced, as well as high-ranking officers in the Treasury and the A-Gs chambers. Those removed were a former Treasury PS, Mr Joseph Magari and Mr Silvester Mwaliko of the ministry of Home Affairs.

Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACC) boss Aaron Ringera said investigations into the Sh7 billion fraud bids were yet to be completed, contrary to an announcement by Mr Githongo that the files were ready and would soon be given to the attorney-general.

Mr Justice Ringera, who is directly in charge of the investigations, said: "The investigations are broadly complete, but we are tying the loose ends." He said his officers were working on details before forwarding the investigation files to the attorney general for prosecution. His comments came only two days after Mr Githongo, in a newspaper interview, stressed the need for the Narc administration to take the Anglo Leasing cases to court.

In the two contracts, Anglo Leasing was given orders totalling Sh6.7 billion to supply terrorist-proof passports for the Immigration Department and to build and equip three forensic laboratories for the CID.

In both contracts, no goods or services were supplied. When the matter was raised publicly, the firm hurriedly returned the money it had been paid. So far, the identities of the directors of the firm remain obscure, as well as the physical location and the address of the firms offices. However, sources said four people may be prosecuted.