Wetang’ula turns to KACC on Tokyo deal

The controversy over the purchase of the Kenyan embassy in Japan has taken a fresh twist, with Foreign Affairs minister Moses Wetang’ula demanding a forensic audit.

The minister has written to the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACC) to determine whether the government got value for money.

This comes as a parliamentary committee that has been investigating the deal prepares to table its report in the House on Tuesday.

The team has expressed fears the government may have lost money in the deal.

KACC has also been investigating the matter and even sent its officers to Japan before the Committee on Defence and Foreign Relations made a similar visit.

KACC spokesperson Nicholas Simani told the Nation on Sunday the anti-graft body had gathered relevant information on the transaction.

“We will look at the minister’s letter and continue with other relevant investigations,” the officer said.

In a letter dated October 1, Mr Wetang’ula said the transaction had raised sufficient public concern to warrant a thorough and immediate investigation.

“You may be aware that the above matter has attracted inordinate negative publicity and attention to the extent that as the minister responsible, I feel it is necessary for KACC to conduct a thorough investigation with a view to returning a verdict on the nature of the transaction,” Mr Wetang’ula wrote to KACC director PLO Lumumba.

The deal for the premises housing the embassy and ambassador’s residence in Tokyo was sealed on June 30, 2009 – the last day of the financial year and Sh1.2 billion paid to the Japanese owners, Mr and Mrs Nobuo Kuriyama.

When he appeared before the committee, the minister was on the defensive, saying the country got a good deal, and the transaction was above board. He accused the committee of blackmail and extortion.