BBC exposé on corruption confirms our suspicions, says tobacco board
Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang'ula (centre) address the media in Parliament on December 2, 2015. Kenya Tobacco Control Board has welcomed a report on corrupt dealings between British America Tobacco and a number of politicians and civil servants. PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
The documentary was largely based on confessions from former BAT employees based in Rwanda, Uganda and the Comoros Islands.
The whistleblower, Mr Paul Hopkins, who was based in Kenya and worked for the tobacco giant for 13 years, shared hundreds of the company’s secret documents.
A State agency has welcomed a report on corrupt dealings between British America Tobacco and a number of politicians and civil servants.
The BBC exposé aired last week named Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula as one of those who may have received bribes while he was the Trade minister, as inducement to allow BAT to operate in the country.
The Kenya Tobacco Control Board said in a statement: “All those involved in the tobacco industry regulation have always had these suspicions.”
CONFESSION
“The facts of this confession must be taken seriously, bearing in mind that Kenya’s Tobacco Control Act 2007 took more than 13 years to be passed, largely due to intimidation and interference from the industry,” reads the statement jointly signed by board chairman Peter Odhiambo and secretary Kepha Ombacho.
The documentary was largely based on confessions from former BAT employees based in Rwanda, Uganda and the Comoros Islands.
The whistleblower, Mr Paul Hopkins, who was based in Kenya and worked for the tobacco giant for 13 years, shared hundreds of the company’s secret documents.
Mr Hopkins confessed to being a “commercial hit man” for the tobacco giant, adding that: “It was explained to me in Africa, that’s the cost of doing business.”
However, Mr Wetang’ula termed the report malicious rumours aimed at ruining his reputation.
