EACC will clear me of any wrongdoing, says ex-IEBC boss

Former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission CEO expressed confidence that the anti-corruption agency will not find evidence linking him to the scandal where a British firm bribed Kenya’s electoral commission and examinations council to win contracts.

Mr James Oswago said he was questioned over a pile of documents from the United Kingdom and had answered them to the best of his knowledge.

He further said he had been waiting for the conclusion of the case in the UK and now that it was over, Mr Trevy Oyombra, the alleged “chickengate” broker, had to prove his accusations or face charges of defamation.

“I do not think this commission will ever find any document showing that Mr Oyombra paid me. I don’t think that they will ever prove that,” he said, adding that Chickengate was a fabrication of the media.

Mr Oswago, who was quizzed by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission for more than seven hours, told journalists an individual who might have benefited decided to drag other people’s names into the matter.

“It is you people who have chosen to call it chicken. This case is about an individual who might have done very well for himself by manipulating multinational cooperation,” said Mr Oswago.

He said the questions were different from the ones fielded the last time he appeared before the EACC where the issue was his relationship with Mr Oyombra.

The commission on Friday began taking statements from officials adversely mentioned in the scandal.

Former Energy Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir failed to appear before the commission.