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Attorney General Prof Githu Muigai/ FILE

Kenya

EACC gets fresh evidence on Japan scandal

Attorney General Prof Githu Muigai/ FILE

NAIROBI, Kenya, May 27 – The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has received fresh evidence from the Japanese government on the irregular procurement of property by the Kenyan mission in Tokyo.

The evidence was handed over to authorities by the Japan ambassador to Kenya Toshihisa Takata following a request by the Kenyan government.

Attorney General Professor Githu Muigai who received the evidence has since handed it over to the Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission Acting CEO Jane Muthaura.

Capital FM News has seen correspondence between Muthaura and the AG’s office, the latest dated May 21 st when Muigai urged the EACC to update his office on progress made in the investigation.

“Kindly provide this office with an update on the progress made with regard to translation of the documents,” the AG said in a letter dated May 21, in a reply to an earlier one that Muthaura had sent to him saying the EACC was in receipt of the evidence and was working out to have it translated into English “to enable further analysis and possible final recommendations.”
Muthaura’s letter said “we acknowledge receipt of your letter together with the enclosed documents.”

Sources said the documents give a chronology of how the Kenya government procured the properties for its mission in Tokyo, Japan; how much was paid and the people and firms involved.

Former Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetangula and Permanent Secretary Thuita Mwangi bowed to pressure and stepped aside last year to facilitate an investigation into the scandal after a parliamentary committee raised queries, but they were later reinstated by President Mwai Kibaki.

It is estimated that up to Sh1.1 billion tax payer’s money was lost in the purchase of property for the Kenyan mission in Tokyo, Japan.

The parliamentary Committee on Defense and Foreign Relations had carried out an investigation and filed a report what it termed as dubious dealings in the properties abroad.

Wetangula has insisted he is innocent and instead blamed officials in the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

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The former Foreign Affairs Minister who was transferred to the Trade Ministry defended himself at the time in Parliament, saying Ministers do not deal in transactions but instead only deal with policies in their respective ministries.

A report of the parliamentary committee said ministry officials had overlooked recommendations from relevant organs and valuers to enter into the deal.

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