KACC on the trail of money hidden abroad

By Peter Orengo and Rawlings OtienoKenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACC) says it is getting more crucial information from agencies and governments on money stashed in foreign accounts.
Soon those who are hiding money outside the country will have no option but to retrieve it back into the country.
"The commission is at the moment getting all the attention it deserves. We have just started moving in the right direction. Soon the thieves will have nowhere to hide," said KACC director Prof PLO Lumumba.
He reiterated that ministers and other public officials operating bank accounts in other countries may have to shut them down to avoid losing their cash.
"The Commission is working with foreign governments to find out public officers who own accounts in banks outside the country.
Under Chapter 6, Article 76 (2) of the new Constitution on leadership and integrity, state officers are not allowed to maintain bank accounts outside Kenya.
This includes member states of the East African Community.
Lumumba who blamed ethnicity, sycophancy and poor leadership in Kenyan politics for rampant corruption promised that more heads would start rolling when the commission unleashes reports on Kenya’s stolen wealth.
He asked the Government to show its obligation in line with Section 12 (3) of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act 2003 (ACECA in matters of corruption.
ExtraditionKACC last week said it would fully cooperate with the United Kingdom, which has sought the extradition of Nambale MP Chris Okemo and former Kenya Power and Lighting Managing director Samuel Gichuru.
Okemo and Gichuru are accused of abusing their offices by using proxy companies to squander public funds over 10 years ago, according to documents sent to the Kenya Government by the bailiff and Chief Justice of the Island of Jersey, Channel Islands, UK.
They are accused of receiving bribes amounting to hundreds of millions of shillings from international companies between 1999 and 2002.
Lumumba was speaking when he was invited by civil society to launch the annual Scorecard Report on the Grand Coalition.
He said alliances formed for the sake of winning elections are meant to sideline other Kenyans leading to ethnic hatred.