NAIROBI, Kenya, Jun 10 – Britain has reiterated a pledge to assist Kenya in the Anglo Leasing probe that seeks to unmask the key players behind the multi-billion shilling scandal.
British High Commissioner to Kenya Rob Macaire said on Tuesday that the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) in the UK was working closely with the government to bring those guilty to book.
“We from the British side would very much like to see successful prosecutions in the case and the Serious Fraud Office in the UK is in touch with the Attorney General and the anti-corruption commission here,” Mr Macaire stated.
“We hope that it will be able to yield results, whether it is in Kenya or anywhere else.”
Mr Macaire stressed the importance of bringing the Anglo-Leasing investigations to a conclusive end.
“They are talking about having court breaks to see these investigations through and to achieve prosecutions because it is absolutely vital for tackling impunity,” he explained.
Attorney General Amos Wako is currently in the UK seeking to get his hands on the SFO dossier, which will assist in the investigation.
At the same time, the British envoy empasised the need for political leaders to be transparent in the use of Constituency Development Funds.
Mr Macaire said that this will ensure the CDF funds are well accounted for and priority is given to key sectors of reform in the country.
“What I am interested in is transparency which goes with accountability and if you put those two together, then there is a huge amount that can be done with the resources which are available,” he said.
He also stated that proper use of the funds would bring a big change to the lives of Kenyans.
“If both these small amounts of money is properly accounted for and used for their intended purpose, then it can make a very great difference to people’s lives.”
The envoy was speaking after touring Gatanga constituency in Thika, where area MP Peter Kenneth called on politicians to put their ambitions aside and instead focus on development issues.
He stressed the need for a new constitution to be put in place and sensitisation exercises carried out to educate Kenyans on its contents.
The Gatanga MP further empasised the need for political leaders to be accountable in the use of public funds.
“We came here on a development agenda. 2012 is still very far and we have a lot of problems in this country that we need to sort out before then,” he said.
“We need to address the issues of the constitution. It’s our country and we need to build it up together and we need to senstitise people on the need for a new constitution,” he further said.
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