Mwiraria Cited For Incompetence, Fear Of Suspects

East African Standard

31 March 2006 Page: 4

Former Finance minister David Mwiraria failed to give leadership in the Anglo Leasing issue because of incompetence or being overwhelmed by the responsibilities of his office. The PAC said he displayed fear in finding out who was behind the scandal since it appeared as if he already knew who they were. Mwiraria reportedly ordered the Financial Secretary, Joseph Oyula, to seek a refund of the money that had been paid from Anglo Leasing and Finance. The report says the former minister testified that he ordered Oyula to call the principal players in Anglo Leasing and Finance and ask them to refund the money. He was also probably remiss with giving the Anglo Leasing players the advantage to get the contracts. The report said Mwiraria failed to provide leadership although he knew about the contracts and an inquiry by the Central Bank of Kenya. "As a result, until the time he resigned, he had not addressed the problem and some of the meantime been paid while others will continue to be paid in future," said the report. The Uhuru team said it also found a tape recording of Mwiraria's conversation with former Permanent Secretary John Githongo to be authentic. Mwiraria reportedly told Githongo that the country would fall if the investigations continued.