Passports - I Am Mr Clean, Says Awori

Daily Nation

22 July 2004 Page: 3

Vice-President Moody Awori yesterday declared himself to be Mr Clean – and shifted blame for the Sh 2.7 billion passports scandal to civil servants in his Home Affairs ministry. Mr Awori told MPs: "I would like to repeat once again in this House that I am Mr Clean and have had nothing to do with the Anglo Leasing and Finance Company." He went on to say he gave an earlier statement to Parliament on the passports deal in good faith and that it had been provided by officers in his ministry. But MP Koigi Wamwere, who said he supported the VP over the scandal, went on to denounce Mr Awori as "grossly incompetent" in the way he had handled the controversy. The VP told the House there was a need to update the passports system because the current equipment was outdated. He said he had deliberately decided not to comment on the scandal since he had issued a Government statement on the subject two months ago, in which he had said the deal was central to the countrys war on terrorism. When he first tried to clear his name, on April 27, MPs refused to allow him to comment because the matter had already been referred to the Public Accounts Committee, chaired by South Mugirango MP Mr Omingo Magara. Since then, however, the PAC had finalised its report, which was waiting to be debated. In it, the committee indicted Finance minister David Mwiraria, who failed to appear before it, and the former Treasury PS Joseph Magari and Home Affairs PS Sylvester Mwaliko, both of whom have since been dismissed. Mr Mwiraria, like Mr Awori, shifted the blame to civil servants, saying he had been misled into approving the project. Three MPs went on to support the VP, but insisted corrupt ministers should be sacked. They described as unfortunate the fact that the VPs name had featured in the passports deal. The MPs were Mr Wamwere (Subukia, Narc), Mr Daniel Khamasi (Shinyalu, Narc) and Dr Ali Ibrahim (Wajir North, Kanu). Mr Khamasi described the firm as Anglo Fleecing and exonerated the VP from the scam, but added the President must take action against any minister who was tainted. "We dont want to go back to the dark old days of having ministers who were tainted sit in the office because of their relationship with the President. Why are the corrupt ministers still in office?" Mr Khamasi asked. Mr Aworis statement came as he replied to contributions by MPs on the motion on the vote of the office of the VP and Ministry of Home Affairs.