What The President Knew As Scam Unfolded

Daily Nation

02 April 2006 Page: 3

The Public Accounts Committee report on Anglo Leasing tabled in Parliament last Thursday, maintains that President Kibaki was fully briefed about the scandal as it unfolded. Below are some of the instances, listed in the report and the so-called Githongo dossier, where the President comes in the spotlight. On or about January 7, 2003 Mr John Githongo is asked by President Kibaki to accept an appointment as PS for Governance and Ethics. Mr Githongo states he has an unimpeded access to the President reporting directly to him. His reports to the President are in two forms – written memoranda and oral briefings. November 22, 2005 In one of his memos to the President, Mr Githongo states: "As we discussed with you severally (sic) during our briefing sessions, I had evidence of culpability on the part of the senior-most officials of our administration in some of the corruption related scandals..." When at one time he briefs Head of Public Service Francis Muthaura on the forensic laboratory project, Mr Muthaura assures him later that day that he had passed on the message to the President. However, the President denies ever receiving a briefing from Mr Muthaura when Mr Githongo meets him two days later. A surprised President accordingly asks Mr Githongo for a copy of the forensic laboratories contract, which Mr Githongo provides. May 31, 2004 Two days later: Mr Muthaura informs Mr Githongo that he had fully briefed the President on the laboratory matter and that it had been agreed that all payment be stopped. The then Finance Minister, Mr Daudi Mwiraria, walks into Mr Githongos office to announce that Anglo Leasing Ltd had refunded all the money they had been paid for the laboratory deal since 2001. Mr Mwiraria says he had spoken to the President who felt that they should now "go slow" on the matter since the cash had been returned. June 24, 2004 The President asks Mr Githongo, during his usual briefing, who he thinks is behind Anglo Leasing & Finance Ltd. Mr Githongo tells the President that ministers Mwiraria and Chris Murungaru probably have the answer. The President also demands to know who Dr Melvyn Kattering is, since there is evidence of his involvement in several security contracts. June 30, 2004 The President supposedly transfers Mr Githongo from State House to that Justice and Constitutional Affairs (then under Mr Kiraitu Murungi). Mr Murungi explains that the decision had been made by the President at the request of Mr Muthaura, among others. However, when on July 2, 2004 the transfer is reversed by the President, he appears unaware that he had transferred the PS in the first place. Dr Murungaru and Mr Murungi openly suggest, before Mr Githongo, that the Treasury must make payments to questionable contracts under audit.