Kamanis: Jubilee shielding suspects

What you need to know:

  • The lawyers representing businessman Deepak Kamani, his brother Rashmi Kamani and their father Chamanlal Kamani maintain that instead of prosecuting the three politicians, the government wants to line them up as prosecution witnesses in the cases facing their clients.
  • Mr Mudavadi served as Transport Minister in the Moi government while Mr Wako served as Attorney General in both the Moi and Kibaki governments. Mr Murungaru served as Internal Security Minister in the Kibaki government.
  • He asked the anti-corruption agency to concentrate on the cases facing the five cabinet secretaries namely Mr Kazungu Kambi (Labour), Mrs Charity Ngilu (Lands), Mr Davies Chirchir (Energy), Mr Felix Koskei (Agriculture) and Mr Michael Kamau (Transport).

Lawyers representing suspects in the multi-billion shillings Anglo Leasing cases have sensationally accused the Jubilee administration of shielding Amani Coalition leader Musalia Mudavadi, Busia Senator Amos Wako and former minister Chris Murungaru from prosecution.

The lawyers representing businessman Deepak Kamani, his brother Rashmi Kamani and their father Chamanlal Kamani maintain that instead of prosecuting the three politicians, the government wants to line them up as prosecution witnesses in the cases facing their clients.

“The prosecution shamelessly displays favouritism in selectively picking certain individuals for prosecution.

“Mr Wako, Mr Mudavadi and Mr Murungaru have been spared as they are considered vital for 2017 political programmes yet they are the who authorised the contracts,” argues lawyer Paul Nyamodi in submissions filed in court.

Mr Mudavadi served as Transport Minister in the Moi government while Mr Wako served as Attorney General in both the Moi and Kibaki governments. Mr Murungaru served as Internal Security Minister in the Kibaki government.

The lawyer’s submissions assume even greater significance, coming at a time the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) is racing against time to conclude investigations into corruption cases facing 175 individuals including five cabinet secretaries.

Last week, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Keriako Tobiko and the EACC Chief Executive Officer Halakhe Waqo differed over the status of investigations into corruption allegations facing five cabinet Secretaries.

Mr Waqo claimed that the commission had already forwarded to the DPP’s office several files including those touching on some cabinet secretaries.

But in a swift rejoinder, Mr Tobiko denied ever receiving any file of cases involving any cabinet secretary.

Mr Tobiko later conceded that it would be difficult for his office and the EACC to beat the 60-day deadline set by President Uhuru Kenyatta to complete investigations into the cases.

He asked the anti-corruption agency to concentrate on the cases facing the five cabinet secretaries namely Mr Kazungu Kambi (Labour), Mrs Charity Ngilu (Lands), Mr Davies Chirchir (Energy), Mr Felix Koskei (Agriculture) and Mr Michael Kamau (Transport).

In his submissions, Mr Nyamodi said the cases facing his clients were aimed at hoodwinking the public that something was being done to contain the runaway corruption under President Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto’s watch.

“The cases are part of a political propaganda by the government to prop its tattered image in the fight against graft,” said Mr Nyamodi.

Mr Nyamodi submits that the allegations that Sh18 billion was lost in the transactions are lies.

The Kamanis are among 13 suspects facing charges of conspiracy to defraud the government over Sh10 billion in the Anglo Leasing scandal.