Kenya Minister (Wetang'ula) Steps Aside Over Saga

[Jacaylbaro]

Kenya Foreign Affairs minister Moses Wetang'ula has stepped aside to pave way for probe into the Sh1.1bn Tokyo embassy scandal.

 

"For the sake of Sirisia, Kenya, friends, PNU and family, I have decided to step aside to give government room for investigations," he said during a news conference at the Ministry's office in Nairobi.

 

He, however, maintained his innocence over the mega scandal that had threatened to end his career.

 

Mr Wetang'ula move comes just hours before Parliament was set to conclude debate on a report by the Defence and Foreign Relations Committee, which recommended that the minister and his permanent secretary step aside to facilitate investigations.

 

Earlier, PS Thuita Mwangi had communicated to President Kibaki his decision to leave office temporarily.

 

"I have consciously taken this decision as an expression of my confidence that at the conclusion of the on-going investigations by the Kenya Anti Corruption Commission, the appropriateness of my engagement with all aspects of the operations pertaining to this matter will undoubtedly be established," he said in a statement.

 

"I step aside purely as a matter of personal dignity and professional integrity – indeed, the very same dignity and integrity I have upheld in the performance of my duties for more than twenty-two years of public service at various levels in the Government."

 

On Wednesday, the minister denied responsibility for the scandal in Parliament and instead shifted blame to civil servants in his Ministry.

 

"The long and short of it is this; ministers don’t deal with transactions. We deal with what we are given; ministers only deal with policies,” Mr Wetang’ula said.

 

“The minister does not procure, the minister does not sign cheques, the minister does not sign vouchers, the minister does not chair committees, the minister does not deal with budgets…” he said during his presentation to the House.

 

The report reveals that Foreign Affairs Ministry officials ignored recommendations from civil servants and independent valuers to saddle the public with huge bills that could have been avoided.

 

The Kenya Anti Corruption Commission (Kacc) is now also investigating embassies in Islamabad (Pakistan), Brussels (Belgium), Lagos (Nigeria) and Cairo in Egypt.

 

In Lagos, the ministry sold two plots said to have been in “one of the choicest areas” of the former political capital of West Africa’s largest country.

 

The plots were next to the homes of former Nigerian president Ibrahim Babangida, the residence of the British High Commissioner and the residence of the governor of Lagos, among others.

 

A government team had recommended that Kenya retains the properties but the ministry sold them, claiming they wanted to build a new embassy in Abuja. In the end no embassy was built in Abuja; the government rents premises in Lagos for the embassy.

 

Over Sh80 million from the sale is not satisfactorily accounted for and a lawyer who acted for the ministry in the transaction is still demanding millions of shillings as legal fees.

 

In Brussels, the ministry lost an estimated Sh84 million by asking the owner of a building, more than 90 years old, to include the cost of valueless furniture in the price.

 

 

Daily Nation ...

[Jacaylbaro]

[General Duke]

*****, glad he is gone..

[Jacaylbaro]

Another one bites the dust ................

[The Zack]

Originally posted by Jacaylbaro:

Another one bites the dust ................

Wasn't he the one questioning Farah Moalim's visit to Las Caanood not too long ago?

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

^^ yeah then faisal cali waraaabe ayaa ku tilmaamay wax aan ragga lugu sheegin

[The Zack]

^ .

[Haatu]

This guy should've gone years ago.