Lucy Kibaki dismisses leaked US cables
Lucy Kibaki (centre) addresses journalists and members of the public on February 7, 2009. On Sunday, Mrs Kibaki denied allegations by US cables that the First Family was involved in the maize scandal. Photo/FILE
Lucy Kibaki on Sunday refuted claims that members of the First Family were involved in the 2008 maize scandal.
In a statement sent to newsrooms, the First Lady said allegations recently carried in sections of the press were false and 'matters of personal opinion'.
A section of an article in the Sunday Nation reads; "The cables also allege members of his (President Kibaki's) family were involved in the maize scandal, the biggest corruption scandal in the early years of the coalition."
In response, the First Lady said: "I take particular exception to this allegation and wish to categorically state that no member of the First Family was involved in the maize scandal or any other scandal."
According to Mrs Kibaki, US Ambassador to Kenya Michael Ranneberger formed his conclusion and sent the cables without giving ample time for the government to investigate.
"It is unfortunate that the American Ambassador cabled his own opinion of the maize scandal before the matter could be investigated by the competent (Kenya) Government agencies to establish the truth," she said.
She said since a House Committee had deliberated on the matter and dismissed the allegations as false, the envoy should advise his government accordingly.
"In view of the potential damage that these false allegations can do to the reputation of the First Family, I demand that the American Ambassador takes corrective action."
She added: "I urge Kenyans to view the leaks with caution as, being opinions, they are matters of personal conjecture rather than factual information."
In a separate statement, Prime Minister Raila Odinga also said none of his family members was involved in the scandal.
“The Forensic Audit on this scandal, conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers, did not mention Mr Odinga or any of his family members and associates as having been involved in this scandal,” the PM said.
“The views the ambassador wired were, therefore, rumours, as he does not say he conducted any investigations that came up with results different from that of PricewaterhouseCoopers,” he said.
