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Kenya's War on Graft Continues

   Michael Onyiego | Nairobi 12 January 2011

   The  War on Graft has sent shockwaves through the Kenyan Parliament in
   recent  months,  with several ministers being targeted in high-profile
   investigations.   But  Kenyaâs  anti-corruption body says more are on
   the way.

   In  recent  months,  Kenyaâs  notoriously  corrupt  public  sector has
   received  several wake-up calls as the so-called "War on Graft" sweeps
   through the halls of the countryâs parliament.
   In  2010, the Government of National Unity promised serious efforts to
   reform   public   life   in   the  country  Berlin-based  Transparency
   International has ranked one of the worldâs most corrupt.
   But  the coalition government may have received more than it bargained
   for,  as  several  prominent  Kenyan politicians find themselves under
   investigation by the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission.
   In  the  fall  of  last  year,  the  likes  of  Foreign Minister Moses
   Wetangâula  and  leading  2012  presidential hopeful William Ruto were
   forced  to  resign  from  Cabinet  posts  to  make way for probes into
   alleged cases of fraud. Â
   The  Kenya  Anti-Corruption  Commission  ushered  in the New Year with
   another  case  against former industrialization minister Henry Kosgey,
   for  his  alleged role in the illegal importation of vehicles into the
   country.   Kosgey  is the Chairman of the Orange Democratic Movement,
   the party of Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
   But  Corruption  Chief  P.L.O. Lumumba says the fight against graft is
   far from finished.  Lumumba announced late Tuesday that several major
   cases would reach the desk of the attorney general shortly.
   "We  expect that about between five to eight high-voltage files," said
   Lumumba.   "Holding  all  factors constant, [the cases] may very well
   find their way to the honorable attorney general."
   The allegations involve yet another unnamed minister and the misuse of
   regional  development  funds  issued  by  the central government.  In
   making  his  announcement,  Lumumba  described  the  charges  as "very
   weighty"  and promised to submit them to the proper authorities in the
   coming weeks.
   Lumumba  has  moved  faster  than his predecessors in tackling Kenyaâs
   rampant  corruption,  but  his  tenure has not been without criticism,
   especially  in  recent  weeks.  All of Lumumbaâs high-profile targets
   have  come from the ranks of the opposition party.  Orange Democratic
   Movement (ODM) members are claiming unfair treatment.
   Last week, ODM member Rachael Shebesh accused the anti-corruption body
   of passing over even bigger fish at the expense of the opposition.
   "When  will the big issues be dealt with?" asked Shebesh.  "When will
   Kenyans  see Anglo-Leasing be dealt with?  When will we see issues of
   Goldenberg  being completed?  When will we see issues of Triton being
   hit on the nail?"
   Such  claims  have  drawn  criticism from the ruling Party of National
   Unity.   Lumumba  has  dismissed  allegations of political tampering,
   insisting  cases  will  be  investigated  by the Kenya Anti-Corruption
   Commission as they were reported.

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