E-Clips:- Business Pictorial - Things Get Hotter As Githongo Invites PAC

The wave of Anglo Leasing scandals continued sweeping strong yesterday as Public Accounts Committee chairman Uhuru Kenyatta revealed his team would leave for London today to meet former anti-graft czar John Githongo.

Uhuru broke the news that he had secured a date with Githongo, even as former Transport minister Dr Chris Murungaru defiantly declared that he would not declare his wealth to the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission as demanded by its director, Mr Justice Aaron Ringera. He also claimed Githongo was a British spy.

As the storm raged, President Kibaki strode out of State House for an official engagement at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre where he renewed his Governments commitment to the war against graft. He, however, did not enumerate the measures to be taken to achieve this. The President declared that his ministers would also be required to sign performance contracts to enable Kenyans assess their competence and efficiency.

Flanked by his lawyer Paul Muite, Murungaru instead demanded that KACC conducts an independent audit of his wealth portfolio, findings of which he would then respond to. "Once they come up with a shortlist of the evidence, I will readily explain how I acquired it." During the press conference, Murungaru seemed more keen on defending himself over Anglo Leasing allegations against him than on explaining the Governments involvement in the scam.

He said all the money paid to Anglo Leasing for the forensic laboratory and the tamper-proof passport projects was returned. Murungaru took a few minutes waiting for his lawyer, as a battery of photojournalists clicked away at the verandah of Nairobi Serena Hotel. With him were two security men, a stark contrast to his days as minister when he had two chase cars full of armed security officers.

Yesterday, Uhuru told journalists that the PAC — one Parliaments most powerful watchdogs — had received official communication from Githongo expressing his readiness to meet them. The PAC scrutinises expenditure by Government departments. Sources in London told The Standard that Githongo was eager to meet Uhurus team. His legal and political consultant, Prof Makau Mutua, had by yesterday left the US to join him during the session with the PAC. Uhuru said Githongo was not keen to meet the PAC in Nairobi, fearing that he could be arrested and charged with leaking official Government secrets. Top Government officials are believed to have settled on this option when Githongos 36-page dossier piled the pressure on President Kibaki to act on the Anglo Leasing scandals, leading to the surprise resignation of Finance minister David Mwiraria last week. He quit to pave way for investigations. Also under siege is Vice-President Moody Awori and Energy minister Kiraitu Murungi, who have gone public to say they are innocent and will not be stepping down.

The two are on Ringeras list of prominent personalities to be questioned, along with Murungaru and Mwiraria. Investigators believe the former ministers, by virtue of their former dockets in Cabinet, are in a position to offer leads that would help unmask the Anglo Leasing "ghosts paid millions of shillings in commitment fees but secretly wired it back to the Central Bank of Kenya when the red flag was raised in Parliament.

Speaking after chairing a PAC meeting at Parliament Buildings, Uhuru said his team expected to meet Githongo for two days. "For his security and confidence the committee will meet Githongo in London," said Uhuru.

He also confirmed that he had met Githongo in London over the weekend, but hastened to add that the encounter was informal. "He was in good spirits and very eager to shed more light on his dossier." If in two days they would not have be through with Githongo, they would come back and arrange for another meeting. "We will make several visits to London to ensure we gather enough evidence from Githongo." He added: "Our meeting with Githongo will be bound by his own schedule in London".

With Uhuru were PAC members Joseph Lagat, Fahim Twaha, Norman Nyaga and Billow Kerrow. The PAC chairman said his team would meet Githongo behind closed doors at the Kenya High Commission in London.

He said the Report on the Parliamentary Inquiry on Anglo Leasing scam would form the basis of their investigations. Tabled in the house by former PAC chairman Omingo Magara in 2004, the report accused Mwiraria of complicity in the Sh2.4 billion passport scandals.

However, the former Finance ministers name was expunged following contentious amendments moved by then Water minister Martha Karua, now Justice minister. Murungaru, reading perhaps

the longest press statement of his political career, said the CID forensic labs contracts were linked to him erroneously. "Like I have stated, the contract was signed in 2001 by the former Kanu regime under the leadership of retired President Moi." "I must add that it is the practice the world over, including in the democratic champions that are Britain and the US, for military and security-related acquisitions to be done through closed tenders and often through single sourcing". He said all the proper procedures had been followed in procuring the Navy ship contract.

Murungaru challenged Githongo to table evidence that he ever received a bribe or commission and also state publicly who gave him such a bribe, where, when and how much he received. The former minister said he disagreed with the "policy of appeasement that is now in place in this country" and urged the Government to "shake off the grip that Western nations and their institutions have on her".

Kenya, he said, should instead look elsewhere in the world, including China and other South East Asian Tiger economies for trade and economic co-operation. He accused Britain of conveniently using corruption as an excuse to advance its commercial objectives in the country.

On his part, an upbeat Uhuru said he was confident Githongos revelations would smoke out the "animal of corruption. "As a committee, no stone will be left unturned. We shall work for the best interests of the House."

The composition of the committee was depleted in the last Cabinet reshuffle when some of its members ended up on Government benches. Those picked for Assistant minister slots were Mr Zebedeo Opore, Mr Kembi Gitura, Ms Adelina Mwau, Mr Ekwe Ethuro and Mr Koigi Wamwere. The remaining members are Mr Charles Ketter, Mr Joseph Lagat, Twaha and Kerrow (all from Kanu) and Nyagah, who is the Governments Chief Whip in the House.