Sh777 million stashed in foreign accounts to be brought back

Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission CEO Halakhe Waqo in Integrity Centre on February 19, 2016 where he held a press conference. Mr Waqo told Justice and Legal Affairs Committee of the National Assembly that Sh525 million from the Jersey Island scam, Sh200 million from the Anglo Leasing and Sh52 million from the Chickengate scandal will be recovered. PHOTO | ANTHONY OMUYA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Mr Waqo said they have identified at least Sh400 billion that has been stashed in foreign accounts through corrupt means.
  • EACC Chairman Philip Kinisu urged MPs to support them through legislation and push for bigger budgetary allocation.

At least Sh777 million stolen from the country and stashed in foreign banks will be brought back starting next month, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission announced Friday.

Chief Executive Officer Halakhe Waqo told Justice and Legal Affairs Committee of the National Assembly that the money include Sh525 million from the Jersey Island scam, Sh200 million from the Anglo Leasing and Sh52 million from the Chickengate scandal.

At the same time, Mr Waqo said they have investigated the Eurobond scandal and established that no money was lost as claimed by Cord leader Raila Odinga.

“We are expecting Sh525 million on the Jersey issue, the Windward Company where two of our people are linked,” he said at the Swahili Beach in Kwale County.

Mr Waqo said they are still assessing assets held in Swiss banks as a result of Anglo Leasing.

“What I am sure of is that so far the Sh52 million from Chickengate is already on the way, the Sh525 million also probably from the indicators could be within this calendar year, not financial year. The Swiss one I cannot say,” he said.

While the Anglo Leasing scandal spanned the regimes of former presidents Daniel arap Moi and Mwai Kibaki mostly in security related projects, the Jersey scandal involved a kick back network said to have been created by former minister Chris Okemo and former Kenya Power and Lighting Company boss Samwel Gichuru, with offshore firms in the British tax haven.

The Chickengate scandal involved officials of the defunct Interim Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IIEBC), some of whom are still serving in the current electoral agency, and the Kenya National Examinations Council who handed a British firm, Ousman & Smith, several contracts in return for financial favours.

Mr Waqo said they have identified at least Sh400 billion that has been stashed in foreign accounts through corrupt means.

MPs accused EACC of protecting individuals implicated in graft and selective application of the law.

“If you want corruption to end in Kenya, you must stop protecting sacred cows. We have evidence that the commission is protecting some people. There are corrupt networks in this country whom you protect,” committee chairman Samuel Chepkonga said.

MORE FUNDS
On Eurobond, Mr Waqo said: “We have established that all the Sh190 million allegedly lost is intact. It was all brought to the country and allocated to various ministries.”

The official said his agency completed its work on the matter and submitted the files to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

MPs had summoned the commission to give a progress report on their investigations into the various corruption cases.

EACC Chairman Philip Kinisu urged the MPs to support them through legislation and push for bigger budgetary allocation.

“We need between 500 and 600 more investigators but the resources are inadequate. We need political support and legislation to make us independent to be able to discharge our mandate more effectively,” Mr Kinisu said.

He said EACC is facing several challenges including lack of public confidence, credibility crisis and social intolerance.

Prevalent corruption in all sectors, weak linkages with other sectors, inadequate resources and backlog of cases has also complicated their work.

Kasarani MP Ndirangu Waihenya told EACC to hold CEOs and Cabinet Secretaries accountable for graft in their departments.

Baringo North MP William Cheptumo suggested that anti-corruption lessons should be included in the curriculum from nursery school to university to create awareness on the vice.