PLO graft sting on minister leaks

Anti-corruption chief Patrick Lumumba on Monday told how an assistant minister set up a plan to bribe him to drop investigation investigations on a case.

It involved a KSh 100,000 bribe which was to be paid by a company owned by the assistant minister’s spouse.

The company, revealed Prof Lumumba, was among others that were being investigated for being awarded suspect tenders by the Ministry of Water.

The investigation came to be known as the Water scandal in which the minister, Mrs Charity Ngilu, was questioned by the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (Kacc).

But in the latest twist, it is not the ministry's assistant minister who was involved.

“It culminated in attempts to bribe the director of KACC. It was discovered in good time. Since June we’ve been conducting undercover investigations. The director (Prof Lumumba) did on several occasions entice these individuals,” Prof Lumumba said, referring his own actions.

He made the revelations to journalists at the KACC headquarters, Integrity Centre, in Nairobi.

Prof Lumumba said he was supposed to receive “the bribe” on Monday and had laid a trap for them.

The assistant minister was supposed to visit the offices.

“The director last night informed critical officials of the Commission and a sting operation was organised. It has not succeeded because they were tipped off,” he added.

The anti-graft czar has now sought the assistance of the police through the director of criminal investigations, Mr Ndegwa Muhoro.