“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.
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.
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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