NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 14- Kenya’s High
Commissioner to Tanzania Chirau Ali Mwakwere has asked the Ethics and
Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to stop including people on any graft list
based on mere allegations.
He said
the commission should always make effort to inquire from the subjects accused
to avoid tarnishing their name when indeed they may be innocent.
Mwakwere was
speaking on Tuesday after a daylong grilling at Integrity Centre over
accusations of irregular acquisition of Kenya Railways Corporation’s houses.
“I have never
ever committed such crimes… I have never sold or rented a Kenya Railway house;
if anything they should be grateful that I took care of the asset as the
Minister for Transport,” he stated.
He said he will
not step aside since his place of work was outside the country.
The former
Cabinet Minister in Mwai Kibaki’s government was accompanied by three lawyers
where he expressed optimism of being vindicated of any wrong doing.
“It hurts…but I
am excited that I was given the opportunity to explain myself; these are
allegations made but it’s not the commission. I think the process has to change
before they inform the world that a certain person is corrupt,” he appealed.
The commission
continues to grill a series of senior government officials who are named in the
confidential EACC list of shame presented by President Uhuru Kenyatta at the
National Assembly.
Twelve Governors are among top officials named in the report.
Twelve Governors are among top officials named in the report.
They include
Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero who is alleged to have signed a Sh4.6 billion
deal to launch the Metro Transportation System although the process was flawed.
Other
allegations leveled against Kidero point to the time when he was the Chief
Executive Officer of Mumias Sugar Company where he allegedly approved and
facilitated paying of Sh300 million to a Senior Counsel representing the
company on various issues.
Kidero will be
questioned by the anti-graft body on Thursday.
Bomet Governor
Isaac Ruto is also under investigation for allegedly accumulating immense
wealth by purchasing earth movers worth Sh400 million and a chopper worth Sh300
million, besides purchasing a house worth Sh33 million shillings in Ngong.
In Machakos,
Governor Alfred Mutua is accused of purchasing 14 Subaru model vehicles for
county Executive members through single sourcing which was overpriced.
Allegations
against Turkana Governor Josephat Nanok include the irregular payment of Sh14
million to a contractor for the construction of a bridge where no work was
done.
Meru Governor
Peter Munya is also alleged to have abused and misused public funds on fuel,
service and repair of a private vehicle.
On the other
hand, Narok’s Samuel Tanui is being investigated for irregular procurements,
mismanagement of the county revenue, Nepotism among many other allegations
labeled against him and other county officials.
Migori Governor
Okoth Obado is being investigated for irregularities in the procurement process
and misuse of public funds to the tune of Sh600 million while his Homabay
counterpart Hezron Awiti is accused of irregularities involving Sh200 million
on the proposed Agro City Project, without a feasibility study being conducted.
Other Governors
on the list include Isiolo’s Godana Doyo who is alleged to have undertaken
irregular appointments and promotions of individuals in the county, as well as
Garissa Governor Nadhif Jama who is alleged to have engaged in a project
without prior planning and hired eight ambulances at a monthly cost of
Sh650,000 each from the Kenya red Cross through single sourcing.
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