Wako to decide fate of Okemo, Gichuru

Jersey authorities have forwarded a document to Kenya's State Law Office with proposals for sharing of a fortune stashed in its banks by two Kenyans . Photos/FILE

Police will arrest Nambale MP Chris Okemo and former Kenya Power and Lighting Company boss Samuel Gichuru and send them abroad for trial once a warrant of arrest issued in the UK is endorsed by local courts.

Police spokesman Eric Kiraithe said the law and existing treaties would guide the process of handing over the two to police in the UK.

It is up to Attorney-General Amos Wako to seek the court orders to extradite the two.

“That’s the time police would be involved. The AG must also be convinced that what they have been charged with in the UK is recognised as a crime in Kenya,” Mr Kiraithe added.

Interpol issued a red notice against the two after the warrant was given by the Bailiff and Chief Justice of the Island of Jersey, UK.

On Sunday, chief public prosecutor Keriako Tobiko said they had not received the warrants. He promised to issue a statement upon receipt of the documents.

Jersey, because of its secrecy laws, has in the past been a haven for money launderers. Corrupt African rulers and their loyalists have stashed in Europe and other jurisdictions billions of dollars looted from their countries.

They were charged with “concealing of transferring the proceeds of crime” an offence that attracts a maximum of 14 years in jail there.

Besides Kenyan police, Interpol also alerted South Africa and United Arab Emirates as the countries where the two were likely to visit. The charges relate to transactions done between 1986 and 2002.

The Interpol notice reads in part: “Samuel Gichuru accepted bribes from foreign businesses that contracted with KPLC and hid the money in Jersey.

“Witnesses have explained that it was considered that the payments to Gichuru had to be made if they wanted to work for KPLC,” it added.

In regard to Mr Okemo, it says: “Gichuru worked with the purview of Chrysanthus Okemo, serving as Energy minister and Finance minister at different times.”

UK authorities further claim Mr Gichuru used a Winward Trading Limited in Jersey, where the money was channelled to his personal accounts.

The amounts under investigation include £1.3 million (Sh175 million) to Gichuru’s personal accounts as well as £5.5 million (Sh742 million), $5.4 million (Sh430 million) and 1 million Danish Kroner (Sh16m) to Winward.

Mr Gichuru served as KPLC managing director between 1983 and 2003. Mr Okemo served as Energy Minister between 1999 and 2001 before he was moved to the Finance docket where he served between 2001 and 2003.

“This request is to be treated as a formal request for provisional arrest, in conformity with national laws and/or the applicable bilateral and multilateral treaties,” a judicial decision sent to Kenya from UK states in part.

It adds: “Assurances are given that extradition will be sought upon arrest of the person, in conformity with national laws and/or the applicable bilateral and multilateral treaties.”

Mr Gichuru is also accused of having used a Gibraltarian company named Arus Management Services to layer payments from Windward.

According to Mr Kiraithe, the CID would arrest them once the warrant is endorsed locally. He said Foreign Affairs ministry would also be involved.

“That would be so if the court rules against them. Besides the foreign warrant being presented in court, a case file would also be produced, precisely giving the evidence collected against them,” he said.