Kacc zeroes in on four ministers

The director of the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission PLO Lumumba gestures during an ethics conference at the Strathmore College October 29, 2010. He said Kacc was investigating four ministers over graft allegations. LIZ MUTHONI

Four Cabinet ministers and at least 45 senior heads of parastatals are under investigation in connection with corruption and other related economic crimes, the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission has said.

Kacc director PLO Lumumba, however, declined to name those facing the investigations, choosing to say that they will be named “in the fullness of time and that time may be very soon”.

Prof Lumumba indicated the the graft watchdog is investigating old affairs such as the Goldenberg cases, more recent ones such as the Anglo Leasing saga as well as recent cases such as the resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons and the importation of old vehicles.

“I think we are investigating no less than four Cabinet ministers and investigating no less than 45 heads of parastatals,” he told journalists at Strathmore University after a conference on ethics and sustainable development

“We are looking at closing down investigations and possible prosecution the old cases, which you know about- Anglo Leasing, Goldenberg,” said Prof Lumumba.

The Kacc has in the past been accused of failing to produce enough evidence for the successful prosecution of corruption cases, but Prof Lumumba was quick to defend the institution’s work.

“This is a relay race. We run our leg  and run it well and what others do in theirs is not within our prerogative.”

It has once again written to the British, Swiss and United States governments in an effort to get to the bottom of the two cases, in which Kenya lost billions in shady contracts, phantom deliveries and outright theft.