NAIROBI, Kenya, July 21 – The Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACC) has begun receiving applications from those who want amnesty for property they may have acquired illegally.
KACC boss PLO Lumumba on Thursday described the response as commendable and called on others to follow suit.
“In fact there are individuals who wanted to be considered for amnesty even before it was published. I cannot name them for now but we told them to wait so that the publication can be made,” he pointed out.
He emphasised that this was one of the measures that the anti graft body is using to reduce corruption in the country.
“I know they will now renew their request and even yesterday I received a representation from a lawyer whose client wants to take advantage of that invitation,” Mr Lumumba told Capital in the Morning show.
He affirmed that KACC will use any means possible to fight graft.
“There are things that we do because they are in the law and because we think that they are right and we are not going to be deterred by critics,” he said.
“There were three individuals who troubled Moses as he was moving people to the Promised Land and the same can be said to be happening to us in our efforts but we will not give up,” he added.
The anti-corruption body on Wednesday extended a 60 day amnesty period to all those who want to take advantage of a provision in the Anti Corruption and Economics Crime Act.
Those willing to take up the offer are required to fully disclose and declare illegally acquired wealth and pay it back with an extra 12 percent of its value, in return for amnesty.
The Commission invited those who have committed economic crimes in the past to seek amnesty within the next 60 days.
It stated that those who do not want the commission to institute investigations or prosecution against them should take advantage of the offer before the deadline.
Those seeking amnesty must make a “full and true” disclosure of the past economic crimes, including all property irregularly or illegally acquired.
They are also to refund any money or property acquired through corrupt means. They must also commit to make reparation to any person affected by their corrupt deeds and pay for all losses of public property caused by their actions.
The applicants must make an undertaking not to commit any or other acts of corruption.Those wishing to apply for the amnesty have been urged to contact KACC offices across the country and fill the relevant forms.
The Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes (Amnesty and Restitution) Regulations, which were published this year, allow those who have been involved in corruption to seek amnesty by paying back what they had stolen.
In return, the commission will drop any pending investigations or prosecutions against them.
The amnesty window expires on September 20.
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