Saturday, December 18, 2010

Secrets of plot to eliminate Githongo

By Alex Kiprotich
Secret US cables unmasked by whistleblowing site WikiLeaks reveals that elements within Government hatched an elaborate plot to assassinate former anti-corruption czar Mr John Githongo.
US Ambassador Michael Ranneberger said the matter was discussed within the circles of the Narc Government — President Kibaki’s first administration — in an effort to suppress what it said was Githongo’s damaging information.
Although the Ranneberger posting was filed in September, last year, the matter appears to have been broached at the height of the Anglo Leasing saga.
US Ambassador Michael Ranneberger at a recent function. [PHOTO: GOVEDI ASUTSA/STANDARD]
In the cable, Ranneberger cites what he calls "Kikuyu elite" in government as having been behind the plot, and specifically refers to a certain meeting in a room at an undisclosed city building.

The whistle-blowing site has sent shockwaves throughout the world with its ongoing postings of leaked secret communications between US embassies abroad and the State Department in Washington DC.
Dangerous grounds
The WikiLeaks revelations is expected to further rattle the Kibaki administration, only days after the President and Prime Minister Raila Odinga launched a scathing attack on Ranneberger for his assessment of the two principals on governance and reform.
The Standard On Saturday was unable to obtain Ranneberger’s comments yesterday, but he has previously refused to comment on individual WikiLeaks postings though the US administration has insisted it is stolen information.
When reached for comment, Githongo said he had seen the WikiLeaks report and was not surprised by the assassination plan against him.
He knew he was treading on dangerous grounds when he took the fight against corruption to the country’s top echelons of power.
"I knew anything could happen to me and I am not surprised to see that such a thing was broached by some people," he said, adding: "Threats started in 2004 and I was told many things."
Githongo resigned as Permanent Secretary for Governance and Ethics in the Office of the President in February 2005, at the height of revelations that Kenya had lost more than Sh9 billion through questionable security-related contracts commonly referred to as the Anglo Leasing scandal.
Kenyans at all levels and across the divide greeted his resignation with an outcry, as did civil society organisations and governments across the world.
The leaks point at a group of individuals who sought to suppress information about corruption that dented the Government’s image.
The President and Prime Minister — who had earlier dismissed the US cables that described the country as a "swamp of corruption", with Raila specifically saying they were nothing but gossip between diplomats and their masters — were on a foul mood on Jamhuri Day and told "visitors" to respect the country and its leaders and keep off its affairs.
Githongo’s tour of Britain coincided with the release of the book, "It’s Our Turn to Eat" which chronicles his rise and fall from power in Kenya.
Authored by Michela Wrong, it outlines in particular Githongo’s investigation of the scandal that came to be famously known as Anglo-Leasing, after one of a series of phantom entities used to perpetrate fraud on the Kenyan taxpayer through non-delivery of goods and services alongside significant overpricing.
Investigations following Githongo’s revelations led to the removal from office of ministers David Mwiraria, Chris Murungaru and Kiraitu Murungi.
Reached for comment yesterday, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) commissioner Hassan Omar and political scientist Adams Oloo said such allegations as released by WikiLeaks needed proof.
"Githongo rubbed many politicians the wrong way and some reputations were completely dented. In a situation where people have power and one proves to be a stumbling block, there is a possibility some people would want you out of the way," Oloo said.
Travel bans
Oloo gave examples of circumstances under which Pio Gama Pinto, Tom Mboya, the populist JM Kariuki, Odhiambo Mbai and Dr Robert Ouko were assassinated.
"Such claims would not just come out of the blue although one would need evidence," said Oloo.
Omar said people who have challenged corruption and impunity and fought for human rights have found themselves in extreme circumstances of fear. "Threats are made and there is need to take necessary precautions," said Omar. The cables also disclosed why some top government officials were barred from setting foot on US soil.
Ranneberger advised his Government to ban Industrialisation minister Henry Kosgey, Attorney-General Amos Wako and former Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission Director Aaron Ringera over actions.
In the secret communication, Ranneberger says integrity issues had been raised on Kosgey.
The minister, who is also the MP for Tinderet, was on Wednesday named by ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo as among six suspects who bear the greatest responsibility for post-election violence.
While recommending the ban against Wako, the US envoy alleged that the AG’s poor quality of legal advice to the Government had helped facilitate both the Anglo-Leasing and Goldenberg mega-scandals.

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