Probe To Go On, Says PS

East African Standard

29 April 2004 Page: 3

The Government last night promised to fully investigate the passports scandal. The inquiry would proceed irrespective of whoever might be involved, the Government said. "The investigation is still going strong and we will not stop until we arrive at the truth," Permanent Secretary for Governance and Ethics John Githongo told the East African Standard by telephone from London. The Government, which was elected on an anti-corruption platform, is under parliamentary and public scrutiny after it was alleged that It awarded a Sh2.7 billion contract for new passports without open tendering. Awarding a contract in that way would be a serious breach of procurement regulations. On Tuesday, Vice-President Moody Awori, under whose Home Affairs ministry the Immigration Department falls, was taken to task by MPs when he attempted to convince Parliament that there was no corruption involved in the award of the contract. Yesterday, the Government sought to quell fears that the investigation had been deterred because "big names" were allegedly involved. Mr Githongo said that he was in touch with the investigating authorities twice a day and that all was going well.