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The Government will on Monday clear the air over the controversial Gazette notice that absolved Energy minister, Mr Kiraitu Murungi, and former Finance minister, Mr David Mwiraria, from the Anglo Leasing scandal.

This came as opposition leaders called for action and the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACC) came under severe criticism.

At the same time, a chorus has been rising among ministers urging President Kibaki to re-appoint Mwiraria into the Cabinet.

A statement posted on the Government Spokesperson, Dr Alfred Mutua’s website on Sunday said: "Attorney General Amos Wako would clarify issues addressed by the Gazette notice that was published by the Director of Kenya Anti Corruption Commission (KACC)."

Mutua cautioned against speculations, saying leaders should base their statements on facts.

"It is, therefore, important that any reports on this matter be based on fact and not … on speculation," said Mutua.

But the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights chairman, Mr Maina Kiai, said the notice had "officially wound up the war on corruption."

He said the issue touches on the credibility and integrity of KACC. "This is a pattern of impunity and lack of accountability. The credibility of KACC must be brought to question. By closing the case, are they suggesting that Anglo Leasing did not exist?" wondered Kiai.

Kiraitu said the scandal was now a thing of the past. The Imenti South MP said he would not discuss the scam. "I will never speak about Anglo Leasing anymore because it is no longer an issue. It is dead," he said.

Mwiraria was unavailable for comment.

However, ODM-Kenya leaders, Mr Raila Odinga, Mr William Ruto, Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o and the Kamukunji parliamentary hopeful, Mr Tony Gachoka, said those implicated in the scandal must face the law.

Nyong’o said the Cabinet corruption committee, of which he was a member before he was sacked, had details of how the President was also implicated.

"The buck stops at the President’s door. We put in place a Cabinet corruption committee and we have all the details with regard to the scandal," Nyong’o said.

Raila said Kibaki was protecting the Anglo Leasing scam suspects. ODM-Kenya, he said, would take up the case once it assumed office after the General Election.

Speaking in Murang’a, Mathioya MP, Mr Joseph Kamotho, accused KACC of reluctance to act on Kiraitu and Mwiraria. "They were never taken to court. How can Kenyans trust KACC on their clearance?"

But Cabinet ministers, Mr Njeru Ndwiga and Mr Joseph Munyao, defended the President and warned ODM-Kenya against dragging Kibaki’s name into the alleged scandal.

Ndwiga said the Public Accounts Committee, Cabinet and KACC had not implicated Kibaki and wondered where Nyong’o was getting his information. "It is only Nyong’o who has that information. The name of the President did not feature anywhere."

Munyao and Assistant minister, Mrs Beth Mugo, told former anti-graft PS, Mr John Githongo, to come and tell the truth. "He is being used by other people to scandalise our motherland. He should come home and tell the truth," Munyao said.

Mugo added: "Why is he hiding? Who is paying his bills? He must be having a master taking care of him."

Kibaki was also petitioned to re-appoint Mwiraria to the Cabinet. Murungi, Ndwiga, and five Assistants ministers urged the President to give back the Imenti North MP his post now that he has been cleared of corruption allegations.

They spoke at a Narc-Kenya rally in Meru town, Mwiraria’s constituency.

Said Kiraitu: "I appeal to the President to re-appoint Mwiraria as soon as possible, even by the end of this month, so that our community could once again walk on two feet."

Mwiraria said he resigned to allow independent investigations.