E-Clips:- Business Pictorial - Who Is Next On Githongo Tape Three?

Evidence is not good enough is the refrain the public has heard every time exiled anti-corruption crusader Mr. John Githongo hits. But after taking a minister and a former member of the Cabinet on air, the next question is, who is next?

The former Ethics and governance PS, first released his sensational secret audiotapes of conversations with Energy Minister Me. Kiraitu Murungi and Mr. David Mwiraira, to the Press a year ago this week, triggering an avalanche of condemnation and calls for investigations into possibility they attempted to subvert the course of justice.

After investigations, the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission has now ruled that Githongo not establish any wrongdoing warrant action against the duo. KACC cleared the two, through a Kenya Gazette notice, thereby giving it the seal of official authority. In return, Githongo released yet another sensational dossier, this time featuring Mwiraria as he pleaded with drop the Anglo Leasing Affair "This thing could bring down Government. " Githongo has promised more sensational stuff and the question on many people's minds is who be starring next?

Apart from the two ministers, Githongo has repeatedly intimated that the head of the KACC, Justice Aaron Ringera has also subtly warned him to either go slow keep off the Anglo Leasing affair he was treading on dangerous grounds. Githongo has also insisted always briefed his boss and appointing authority, the President himself, at every stage about the progress in the Anglo Leasing scandal.

Many wonder if he might also have tapped conversations with the President and if he did, what would he do with the tapes, and when. The most curious thing about the Mwiraria tapes is the sheer terror in his heart that makes voice quiver as he pleads, Hii kitu hii ... (This thing, this thing...it could bring down the Government..." Whoever the men or women behind the Anglo Leasing are, and wherever they are, Mwiraria seemed to know them and they must have struck the fear of God in him. But Mwiraria and Kiraitu are not the ordinary run of the politicians.

The two were among the most senior and powerful Cabinet ministers until the Anglo Leasing monster invaded in 2004. Together with former colleague, Dr Chris Murungaru, they formed powerful trio that was widely regarded as the face of the Kibaki Administration. Unlike other ministers who came from other political parties that formed the Narc, the two were senior members of President Kibaki's Democratic Party, and which Mwiraria was the national vice-chairman. Their DP roots gave them more Proximity to the Head of State and the aura of power that goes with it.

At the height of the insurgency in the Cabinet led by the Liberal Democratic Party wing over the famous Memorandum Understanding dispute, the three were among the few ministers who spoke for the 'Government' even when it was clear the administration was divided down middle. But when the Anglo Leasing scandal broke out, they were knocked down like dominoes.

For Kiraitu, the return to the fold has begun. He was reinstated recently Mwiraria seemed like he was also on his way back to the Cabinet until Githongo struck again, and style this time round. In the tapes posted on the githongospot.com, a man identified as Mwiraria is heard warning Githongo to drop his probe into Anglo Leasing as it could bring down the Government. In it, a clear voice of the former Finance minister pleads with Githongo to drop the probe and promises to get to the bottom "Hii Kitu... (This thing), if we are not careful, will come down with our Government. .. What suggesting ... why don't you and anti- corruption... drop this matter. will get to the root of the matter. A terrified and quivering voice heard saying, "And I am saying in your presence..." Githongo Mwiraria was referring to Kiraitu. Both ministers resigned from the Government in February, last year, following a public outcry by Kenyans and donors disillusioned by Kibaki's failure to stamp out corruption as he vowed in 2002.

They both denied the charges and in November, last year, Kibaki reinstated Kiraitu as Energy minister after about a year-in the cold. The duo has adamantly declined to comment on the latest salvo from Githongo. Attorney General, Amos Wako said last week that the Government had hired international investigators to probe any wrong doing in Anglo Leasing. Mwiraria admitted signing some of the Anglo Leasing payments, but said his officers in the Finance ministry misled him.

There is a Cabinet position in the Ministry of Lands that has remained vacant and which is widely believed to have been reserved for Mwiraria, but the prospect of his reinstatement now looks dimmer than ever before. The most curious thing about the victims of the scandal is that they are willing to risk their names and Cabinet jobs rather breath a word about the identity of the Anglo Leasing shareholders.