E-Clips:- Business Pictorial - Passport Scandal

The government yesterday made its boldest move in the war against corruption when it sent four senior officials, including two permanent secretaries, on compulsory leave in connection with the Shs 2.7 billion passports tender scandal.

Treasury permanent secretary Joseph Magari, his office of the vice-president and ministry of home affairs counterpart, Sylvester Mwakilo, the director of the Government Information Technology Services, dr Wilson Sitonik, and the Chief Litigation Councel at the Atorney generals Chambers, Dorcas Achapa, were all sent packing as investigations into the controversial tender went into top gear.

Unconfirmed reports indicated last night that Magari and Mwaliko wre summoned to the Kenya Anti-Corruption headquaters at Integrity center where they recorded statements for the third time since investigations began.

Heads of Public Service and Secretary to the Cabinet, Francis Muthaura, said initial investigations into the tender had revealed that there were serious irregularities.

He said the suspended officers were either responsible for the authorization of the project, signed the contract or they gave critical advise that led to the procurement or signing of the contract document.He said they were being sent on compulsory leave with immediate effect to allow for completion of investigations.

Sources said the two permanent secretaries were sent packing after most of those interrogated pointed accusing fingers at them, claimi9ng that they were behind the scheme.

But Magari, on his side, was said to have accused a senior State House official of being the architect of the scam.

A probe into the scum was launched late last month on the orders of Governance and Ethics Permanent secretary john Githongo immediately the controversial deal was exposed in parliament by ntonyiri MP Maoka Maore, who claimed that those behind the tender could have pocketed Shs 1.7 billion in kickback payments.

Eyebrows were raised when it emerged that an initial tender of 800 million was expand to one of Shs 2.7 billion and the new tender awarded to a French company, Francois Charles Oberthur Fiducaire, without being put to open tender.

It further emerged that none of the three firms, all reputable international companies , that were short-listed in the original tender was invited to bid for the larger project after their qualification was cancelled.

Questions were also raised about financing of the deal, assigned to Anglo Leasing and Finance Ltd, which gave its address as Liverpool, UK, but later explained it was based in Switzerland and operated only a representative office in the British town.

An attempt by Vice-President Moody Awori to defend the award of the tender in the house hit a snag when he was put to ask as to why it was not subject to open building.

During the stormy session, MPs maintained that the tender was illegal and even went a step further by naming a son to a former minister and nephew to the suspended finance PS as the brains behind the scandal.National security minister Chris Murungaru later announced the tender was being put on hold pending investigations.

Before yesterdays move, the two PSs had twice recorded statements with the Kenya Anti-corruption Commission over the saga.

Also grilled by the anti-graft detectives were Dr. Sotonik, Principal Immigrations Officer Henry Ole Ndiema and several clerical officers at the ministry of finance, where the sleuths also impounded relevant computer data.

President Mwai Kibaki has been under pressure, especially from the parliament, to crack the whip on senior government officials accused of corruption.

Two parliamentary committees, the Public Accounts Committee and the parliamentary Committee national security, have been conducting investigations into the scandal as has been the office of the controller and Auditor General.

And last week, ford people leader Simeon Nyachae took the rare step of writing directly to State House to seek assurance that Kibaki government was still committed to the fight against corruption.

The Nyaribari Chache MP, himself a former finance minister, also urged the president to act “decisively and courageously” to stamp out corruption in the government, especially by those seen to be close to him.

Sources say finance minister, David Mwiraria, Justice Minister Kiraitu Murungi and Dr. Murungaru were summoned to state house after initial investigations corroborated claims the tender award was irregularly done.It is at this parley that the courageous decision to send the two PSs on compulsory leave was said to have been sealed.

Sources said there is a feeling in official anti-corruption circles that only by acting tough on perpetrators of graft, however, high they may be, will the government salvage its dented image as far as the war against the menace is concerned.

The move was immediately hailed by civil society organisations as a move in the right direction.

The National Convention Excecutive Council (NCEC) and federation of Women lawyers-Kenya (FIDA-K) said that the suspension of the four would clear the way for thorough investigations into the scam.

“This move shows that the government is sensitive to he public calls to iron out corruption that may have started creeping into the executive. It demonstrates the governments commitment to zero-tolerance of corruption as has been promise din election pledges,” said FIDA-Kenya.

NCEC, on its part, while hailing the government's move, said there will be need to ensure that all perpetrators of alleged corruption both in the present and past regimes are brought to book.