E-Clips:- Business Pictorial - Who Else Is On Githongo Secret Tapes?

Cabinet Minister Kiraitu Murungi put on a brave face on Thursday in the wake of damning evidence that he tried to interfere with investigations into corruption, as it emerged that more Government officials were on former Ethics Permanent Secretary John Githongos secret tapes. Kiraitu, whose voice was broadcast on BBC as he asked Githongo to go slow on investigations into corruption, refused to talk to journalists as politicians and a cross section of Kenyans called for his immediate resignation. Former Cabinet minister Raila Odinga and a section of Opposition MPs called on President Kibaki and his Government to resign over the revelations of grand corruption. The President chaired a Cabinet meeting, which agreed that all corrupt cases – past and present — be investigated. He also promised to take decisive action over both the Goldenberg and Anglo Leasing scandals.

Attempted blackmail Sources at the meeting said Local Government minister Musikari Kombo was emphatic that no one should be spared in the fight against corruption. Kiraitu attended the meeting, but it was not clear whether he said anything to defend himself from Githongos accusations. In an interview with BBC — his first since he resigned in February last year — Githongo tells of his meeting with Kiraitu, during which the then Justice minister tried to blackmail him over a loan his (Githongos) father is said to owe businessman Anura Perera.

"The minister of Justice was telling me that if I eased off my inquiries, then my fathers loan matter would be made to go away," Githongo told the BBC. The former PS backed his accusation of Kiraitu with an audiotape, which was played on BBC. Githongo is said to have recorded most of his conversations with key Government officials. It is from the tapes that Githongo is said to have compiled a detailed dossier on Anglo Leasing and other corrupt deals that he sent to President Kibaki in November last year, in which he said senior Government officials were involved.

Appeal to drop investigations He also told the President he was ready and willing to substantiate his claims with incontrovertible evidence. Among those featured in Githongos dossier are Kiraitu, Vice President Moody Awori, former Finance minister David Mwiraria, former Transport minister Chris Murungaru and Head of the Civil Service, Francis Muthaura. Githongo also informed President Kibaki severally on investigations into the Anglo Leasing scandals. Awori is said to have held several conversations with the former PS in regard to Anglo Leasing.

At one point, during lunch at the VPs home in Muthangari, Awori is said to have, together with Kiraitu and Murungaru, asked Githongo to drop investigations into Anglo Leasing because the money had been returned by the fictitious firm. Another politician who features in Githongos report is Mwiraria, who is said to have inquired about Perera. Mwiraria told Githongo that Kiraitu had asked him whether he had instigated an investigation into the bank accounts of Perera at Equatorial Bank. "Mwiraria told me that Perera was a strong supporter of the President and had backed him for 10 years and had also paid for the Presidents bills in London following his road accident in 2002."

Questionable deals

The then Finance minister also reportedly told Githongo of threats to his (Githongos) life by a businessman who was under investigation. Githongo is also believed to have had a number of conversations with Muthaura in relation to his investigation. At one point, Muthaura informed him that one of the cases he was investigating, involving the Sh4.2 billion Navy ship contract, was sensitive. Murungaru is said to have openly talked about the questionable deals being used to raise money for politics. In fact, Murungaru is said to have told Githongo that, as a former Finance minister, President Kibaki "understood how these things are done."

Githongo had travelled with Kiraitu to the United Kingdom to the offices of Kroll and Associates in May 2004, as they tried to locate billions of shillings believed to have been stashed abroad by individuals in the previous government. Kiraitu reportedly told Githongo that they should be careful because the investigations could "knock out key political people" like Alfie (Alfred Getonga) and Murungaru.

Political cost On May 17, 2004 Kiraitu reportedly stormed into Githongos office and expressed concern at the manner the Anglo Leasing investigation was being conducted. "He said people were asking whether I considered the political cost of my work." The minister also said people had expected investigations to stop once the money was wired back. Three days later, Kiraitu called Githongo to his office and warned him to go easy on "our friends, Murungaru and Alfie in particular."

This is when they had the conversation that was aired on BBC. Kiraitu on Thursday held a two-hour closed door meeting with Government Chief Whip Norman Nyaga, as the Public Accounts Committee members prepared to fly out to London last night to take Githongos evidence on Anglo Leasing and other corruption scandals. Nyaga is a member of the PAC that is chaired by Leader of the Official Opposition, Uhuru Kenyatta. Kiraitu emerged from the meeting and refused to talk to journalists, who were waiting for him at Parliament Buildings.

Personal responsibility LDP members William ole Ntimama, Prof Anyang Nyongo, Najib Balala and David Musila chatting after a party meeting at Holiday Inn, Nairobi on Thursday. He was immediately bombarded with questions: "Are you going to resign? Was that your voice on BBC radio?" journalists asked Kiraitu as he hurriedly walked away.

His bodyguards shoved aside the journalists to make way for the minister. Nyaga then called the journalists into his office where he declared that everyone should carry his own cross. "I have nothing to do with Kiraitu, (Chris) Murungaru, (Vice President Moody Awori) VP, (Mukhisa) Kituyi and (Kipruto) Kirwa", he said. "Let everyone carry his own cross over their business" added the Government Chief Whip. Nyaga said that he had seen some Members of Parliament become rich overnight. "I am untainted. Any corrupt member would not get any protection from me," added Nyaga. He said Kiraitu had gone to see him like any other MP as the Government Chief Whip and he declined to state if they had discussed the Anglo-Leasing scandal. "If you are interested to know about the Anglo Leasing, go and ask Kiraitu, not me," he added.

Team flies out Nyaga said that he had also met Kiraitu on Monday and discussed other matters related to his position as the Government Chief Whip and not Anglo-Leasing.

By last evening, the PAC members had received their tickets and were to jet out at 11.30 pm aboard a Kenya Airways flight. "We are all set and have received our tickets for the appointment with Githongo in London, said Eldoret East MP, Joseph Lagat, a member. Other PAC members are Uhuru, Nyaga, Butula MP Dr Christine Mango, Lamu West MP Fahim Twaha and Mandera Central MP Billow Kerrow. The team opted to meet Githongo in London after he expressed concern over his safety were he to travel to Kenya. This is the second time that a parliamentary committee is travelling to London to receive evidence. The first was when the Committee probing the death of former Foreign Affairs Minister Robert Ouko went to meet Scotland Yard detective John Troon.