Trevy Oyombra quizzed over bribes scandal

What you need to know:

  • This came amid reports that the anti-graft agency has sought evidence from the UK Serious Fraud Office to fortify its case against the electoral managers.
  • Mr Amoro spoke three days after Mr Oyombra, a former procurement officer with the disbanded Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK), released a statement through his lawyers, saying that he was working with anti-corruption agency on matters relating to the scandal.

The anti-graft agency has questioned the man at the centre of the “chicken scandal” worth millions of shillings involving top managers of the electoral commission and officials of a British printing firm.

Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission spokesman Yassin Amoro said yesterday that Mr Trevy Oyombra was questioned by detectives over the bribes, which were referred to as ‘chicken’.

The detectives sought to know the role he played in the alleged bribery of the Interim Independent Electoral Commission (IIEC )officials to secure a tender for British firm Smith & Ouzman in 2010.

“I can confirm he was questioned over his role in the bribery allegations against electoral officials. He has recorded a statement with us,” Mr Amoro said by phone.

This came amid reports that the anti-graft agency has sought evidence from the UK Serious Fraud Office to fortify its case against the electoral managers.

Mr Amoro spoke three days after Mr Oyombra, a former procurement officer with the disbanded Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK), released a statement through his lawyers, saying that he was working with anti-corruption agency on matters relating to the scandal.

The UK fraud office has taken S&O officials to a London court over allegations of bribery to influence tenders in four African countries, including Kenya.

Investigations revealed that it was Mr Oyombra who introduced S&O directors to top officials at both the defunct IIEC and the Kenya National Examinations Council soon after the disbandment of ECK following the bungled 2007 General Elections.

According to the UK investigators, Mr Oyombra was a central player in the “chicken” scandal” by virtue of being the S&O agent in Kenya.

In email communication between him and Smith &Ouzman bosses in London, the bribe is variously referred to as “chicken” or “comm” or “comm+O” to indicate the official to whom “the money was paid”.

Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Chairman Ahmed Isaack Hassan and former Chief Executive Officer James Oswago have denied receiving any bribes. Mr Amoro said EACC is applying the Mutual Legal Assistance Act to get information from the UK investigators.