Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

top

Kenya

EACC says Raila won’t face arrest, has sent information

EACC Chief Executive Officer Halakhe Waqo told the media on Monday that Odinga has already furnished the commission with documents but there was no proof crimes had been committed/CFM

EACC Chief Executive Officer Halakhe Waqo told the media on Monday that Odinga has already furnished the commission with documents but there was no proof crimes had been committed/CFM

NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 14 – The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) now says Opposition leader Raila Odinga won’t be arrested or forced to record a statement over his Eurobond claims.

EACC Chief Executive Officer Halakhe Waqo told the media on Monday that Odinga has already furnished the commission with documents but there was no proof crimes had been committed.

Waqo said through the statement, Odinga had already complied with the commission’s requirements.

“Raila Odinga provided the commission with the documents a day after we issued summons for his appearance,” Waqo said.

He says Odinga’s concerns are largely based on two Treasury documents: Quarterly Economic Budget Review for 4th Quarter of 2014 /2015 and Budget Review Outlook Paper dated September 2015.

“The commission would like to confirm to the nation that the Raila Odinga has complied with the terms of the summons through his lawyers vide a letter dated 11th December 2015 providing a summary of his concerns on the Eurobond but without supportive documents,” he said.

According to the anti-graft body, Odinga’s document has nothing to show “how expenditures have been faulty or not.”

The commission had last week ordered Odinga to appear before its investigators and provide information on his claims that Sh140 billion of Eurobond monies were stolen or unaccounted for.

In response, the Opposition leader refused to honour the summons and instead accused the EACC of turning whistleblowers to investigators.

“The commission often deals with informants, witnesses and suspects and routinely require them to appear before investigators pursuant to Section 23(3) of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act, 2003 and Section 52 (1) of the National Police Service Act, 2011,” he explained on why Odinga had been summoned.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

Odinga was summoned after he declined to honour the initial invitation on December 4.

His statement has since started being analyzed but Waqo says Odinga may be required to explain any issue that may be raised during the process.

In a rejoinder during the Jamhuri Day celebrations, President Uhuru Kenyatta castigated the Opposition and warned the leaders to prepare to face consequences if they continue making unsubstantiated claims about corruption in government.

“I agree that those entrusted with public positions must be held to account and if I am guilty the maximum punishment meted out by the sword of justice cuts both ways. If you make accusations and fail to prove them, you too must be held accountable,” he said.

But in his answer to the President, Odinga said no amount of threats and intimidation would stop him from seeking for accountability on the Eurobond expenditure from the government.

The former Prime Minister said he has already given the EACC all the information it required and insisted that he will not honour the summons.

“I shall not be intimidated by consequences of going to jail because I have been in jail for more than a hundred times,” he said on December 13.

He told President Kenyatta to answer the key questions arising out of the Eurobond expenditure as he would not stop demanding for answers.

“The President should answer Kenyans and tell them how the Eurobond money was spent instead of harassing me,” he said.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

About The Author

Comments
Advertisement

More on Capital News