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Githongo says Murungaru impediment to graft fight during Kibaki regime

According to Githongo, senior government officials   knew the players and those involved in the Anglo Leasing scandal/FILE

According to Githongo, senior government officials knew the players and those involved in the Anglo Leasing scandal/FILE

NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 8 – Former anti-graft czar John Githongo has claimed that former Cabinet Minister Dr Chris Murungaru was a primary challenge in the fight against corruption during the Kibaki regime.

While defending himself in a defamation case filed against him by Murungaru for linking him to the multibillion shillings Anglo Leasing scam, Githongo said it was difficult to fight the vice because the latter was at the heart of the conspiracy to defraud the Kenyan government together with foreign entities.

He told Judge Joseph Sergon that from his investigations, the former Kieni MP was listed among those who wanted to defraud the government.

According to Githongo, senior government officials knew the players and those involved in the Anglo Leasing scandal.

“Investigations were clear that the plaintiff and others were behind Anglo Leasing as his name was mentioned again and again,” he said.

It was his testimony that at a meeting in State House together with former PS Stanley Murage it was suggested that Murungaru be removed and allowed to rebuild his career in a decent manner as he was costing the government by pairing it as corrupt.

He went on to say that he was under pressure from the retired President to find out who were behind the Anglo leasing scam.

Githongo further testified that he was perplexed when former Justice Minister Kiraitu Murungi asked him to drop the matter since it was known who had taken the money and had been asked to return.

The court heard that following his appointment, he was asked to ensure that corrupt deals from the Kanu government were not carried over into the Narc regime.

The 59 year old veterinary doctor has been testifying against Githongo for linking him with the scandal.

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Murungaru has sued Githongo arguing that he was not an investigating officer but an advisor to the then President Mwai Kibaki on matters to do with corruption.

He says that the former ethics and governance PS went beyond his mandate by trying to investigate him in the alleged Anglo-leasing security projects scandal where the Government lost Sh7 billion.

Githongo’s dossier, according to Murungaru had political implications making him lose his Kieni-Constituency parliamentary seat in 2007.

His bid to run for the Nyeri County gubernatorial seat was also thwarted after he lost to Governor Nderitu Gachagua.

The matter resumes in February next year when Githongo will be cross-examined by Murungaru through lawyer Kioko Kilukumi.

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