Origin Of Anglo Leasing Project The People Daily 27 July 2004 Page: 1
Former President Daniel Moi s cabinet approved the forensic laboratories project following a request by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), we can reveal.
Then CID director Francis Sang recommended to the government single sourcing of the lucrative project allegedly to guarantee delivery, we have established.
On November 10, 2000, Sang wrote to internal security permanent secretary Zakayo Cheruiyot suggesting single sourcing for a project that has bedeviled the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) administration in the recent past.
Sang, who was later moved to the ministry of foreign affairs to head the small arms proliferation bureau, explained that the project was meant to ensure that the government has a unified point of responsibility and that the contractor can be held accountable for getting the desired results.
Sang further recommended Forensic Laboratories, UK, be contacted directly for information on their interests in the project and availability of funding from them, according to official correspondence.
State records indicate that the idea of a forensic laboratory was mooted in 1998. It arose out of the realization that the services rendered by the Government Chemist were becoming expensive and not meeting the police force s specific requirements. In some Instances, especially when it came to DNA profiling, detectives had to resort to foreign laboratories for specialized analysis.
On December 9, 1998, then director of Criminal Investigations Department Noah arap Too set up a committee to work on the possibility of setting up a forensic sciences laboratory for police.
Too, now an assistant minister for home affairs and Kanu MP for Ainamoi, then wrote to Zakayo Cheruiyot, the then permanent secretary in the office of the president in charge of national security, to inform him about the proposal. J.F.A Agili signed the letter on behalf of the CID director.
On June 16, 1999, Forensic Laboratories of Frances House whose address was given as Sir Williams Place, St Peter Port, Guernsey Islands, GYI 4HQ United Kingdom wrote to Cheruiyot offering its services for the proposed project.
The letter, signed by the firm s senior projects director L Katuschenko, proposed to send senior forensic scientist Michael Baxter, who was the head of forensic laboratories in Edinburgh, to Nairobi to evaluate the existing facilities and make a report.
In a letter dated June5, 1999, Agili wrote to Forensic Laboratories allegedly to respond to their letter dated June 8 welcoming the decision to send Baxter to help prepare the requirements for the new Forensic laboratory.
Katuschenko wrote back on June 28, 199 to the PS advising him that Baxter would be arriving in Kenya on July 12 to discuss the proposed project. She wrote again to the PS on January 27, 2000 to announce that she would be sending chief constable William J. Wilson QPM to meet senior officers responsible for fingerprinting. Cheruiyot replied on February 3, 2000 authorising the visit.
On November 10, 2000, the then CID director Francis Sang, wrote to cheruiyot recommending single sourcing. On December 28, 2000, the PS, in a letter signed by Agili invited Forensic Laboratories of 26 Rutland square, Edinburgh, to submit a technical proposal and cost quotation for the project.
On March 5, 2001, Agili submitted contract agreement with Forensic Sciences Laboratories (UK) and financing agreement with Anglo Leasing Finance to the attorney – general for legal opinion. The A-G proposed some changes in the documents and finally approved the contract. The chief state counsel Dan Ameyo, on behalf of the A-G, handled the matter. Ameyo is today the chief executive of the postal services.
On May 11. 2001, Agili wrote to L Muraveno of Forensic Laboratories informing him that the government found their technical and financial proposals attractive, but wished to explore alternative financial arrangements. Agili asked that the proposals be transformed into a financial lease arrangement instead.
On July 30, 2001, then head of civil service Sally Kosgei conveyed to Cheruiyot the cabinet approval for use or lease financing for the “high priority security project of forensic laboratory”. Cheruiyot, in turn, wrote to then Treasury PS Mwaghazi Mwachofi on august 1, 2001, requesting a meeting five days later.