NAIROBI, October 1 – President Mwai Kibaki has extended by one month the mandate of the Cockar Commission investigating the Grand Regency sale.
Commission Secretary Anthony Ombwayo said on Wednesday that the President had granted them until the end of October to present a report, following the expiry of its previous mandate on Tuesday.
“We had applied for an extension until October 18 but the Office of the President has extended the term for 30 days that means we should conclude by October 30,” he said.
This is the third extension the Commission has been given since being appointed in July to investigate the controversial sale of the hotel to a Libyan company. The commission is investigating the role played by former Finance Minister Amos Kimunya, the Governor and Company Secretary of the Central Bank of Kenya and any other persons involved in the sale.
Speaking to Capital News Mr Ombwayo said they would resume sittings on Friday when Commission Chairman (Rtd) Justice Abdul Majjid Cockar is expected to make a ruling on whether Treasury Permanent Secretary Joseph Kinyua will be called to testify.
“Justice Cockar reserved his ruling until he see’s the statement of the PS, if he rules that Mr Kinyua be called the PS will be heard on Monday. Thereafter we shall go into submissions and the writing of the report,” Mr Ombwayo said.
On Tuesday Assisting Counsel Wilfred Mati applied to have the PS give evidence on behalf of Treasury since Former Finance Minister Amos Kimunya had opted not to.
Mati’s application however encountered opposition from lawyers who said the PS had nothing to tell the commission.
21 witnesses have been summoned by the Commission and the manner in which the five star hotel was sold to the Libyans and its true value have been sticking points.
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