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Legal suits hang over Raila as he releases Eurobond ‘names’

The Opposition leader made it clear he was linking the individuals to the scandal based on their positions but appeared to step into a legal minefield as indications of libel action began streaming in/FILE

The Opposition leader made it clear he was linking the individuals to the scandal based on their positions but appeared to step into a legal minefield as indications of libel action began streaming in/FILE

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 14 – CORD leader Raila Odinga Thursday released a list of 10 individuals he says were involved in the alleged Eurobond scandal.

The Opposition leader made it clear he was linking the individuals to the scandal based on their positions at the Treasury but appeared to step into a legal minefield as indications of libel action began streaming in.

“The persons of interests are basically because of their positions or responsibility. That is why we are saying they are the people who got the information. They may be on the first line but as you know an onion… you peel the first layer. So other names will come,” the CORD leader told journalists on Thursday.

He says the Treasury officials should step aside until the Eurobond saga is clear to Kenyans while arguing that there are still a lot of grey areas on its transactions.

“We demand that the top Treasury officials resign immediately and be arraigned in court for undermining the Constitution,” he said adding that the Eurobond money was not paid in full.

However, Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich was quick to respond, condemning Odinga’s action of linking individuals to the alleged scandal, saying he had no mandate to do so apart from designated authorities in the country, maintaining that no money was lost.

“The agencies mandated to do that are in the Constitution like EACC (Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission) but not an individual. What is the significance of him saying this yet he refused to provide evidence when he was called to? You can see that someone is just trying to play some games. The important thing is that there is no money lost,” Rotich told Capital FM News.

“This issue has been in the public domain for a while. We have explained these transactions very clearly in Parliament and in the media. The issue has been investigated as you know by EACC who have given their report and shown that there is no money lost,” he added.

President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Chief of Staff and Head of Civil Service Joseph Kinyua has also hit back at Odinga, demanding an immediate retraction or legal action.

Through his lawyers Ogetto and Otachi advocates, Kinyua said termed Odinga’s allegations as imaginary.

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“Hon Raila’s attempt to link Mr Kinyua to this imaginary scandal is the product of a malicious and reckless political witch -hunt which will not pass unchallenged,” lawyer Ken Ogeto wrote in a press statement.

“We demand that Hon Raila forthwith retracts his baseless and unwarranted allegations failure whereof we have instructions to institute legal action against him,” he insisted.

On his part, Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) Chairman Mohammed Nyaoga who is among those named said he was not even the chairman of the CBK at the time the transactions were executed.

“This is a very cheap falsity and constitutes reckless impunity. I had no direct involvement in the issue; in any event, I was not even in the CBK at the time and had not been vetted or interviewed for the position,” he told Capital FM news on phone.

He made it clear that he would take legal action against Odinga, to vindicate his reputation.

“I find this extreme oppression to my person and character that I have built over the years. Somebody must pay for it. He should have ascertained the truth unless there are other ulterior motives.”

Former CBK Governor Njuguna Ndung’u who was also mentioned referred us to his lawyer Donald Kipkorir who promised to act once he sees the allegations made in writing.

“We will act once we see the press release and the contents thereon,” Kipkorir said when Capital FM News contacted him.

Lawyer Ken Ogeto said he was under instruction from President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Chief of Staff Joseph Kinyua to institute legal action against Odinga to the libellous allegations.

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EDITOR’s NOTE: Capital FM News chose to only publish the names of individuals it could get comment from by the time of publishing this story, to protect its legal interests.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kChcPQFUuD0

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