Mbarire’s husband attempts to bribe KACC boss

Written By:Diana Okemwa/Hallyghan Agade,    Posted: Mon, Aug 22, 2011

Lumumba said certain individuals have attempted to blackmail the commission in a bid to portray it as compromised The husband to Assistant Minister Cecily Mbarire has been implicated in a plot to bribe Kenya Anti Corruption Commission Director PLO Lumumba in connection with investigations into the water scandal. Making the revelations Monday, Lumumba said certain individuals have attempted to blackmail the commission in a bid to portray it as compromised. Speaking to journalists at Integrity House in Nairobi, Lumumba said that he had attended various meetings with individuals involved in corruption including one with the Director of the Broad Vision Dennis Apaa, Mbarire's husband.  He said during this time the commission was conducting undercover investigations. Lumumba alleged that the company wrote a cheque of 100,000 shillings which he rejected pending further negotiations in a meeting scheduled for Monday. Speaking during a press briefing to highlight on the Ministry of Water's scam alleged findings at KACC offices, Integrity Centre today, Lumumba said that they have been conducting undercover investigations since June and have obtained enough evidence to prove that Apaa tried to compromise the concluded investigations. "Today we were on the verge of catching them on camera when they sent us text messages informing us that they would no longer show up at our offices as scheduled but it seems that they were advised against the move," said Lumumba. The matter has been forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecution Dr. Keriako Tobiko for further action. Lumumba who has been advocating for powers for prosecution by KACC has said that a Bill expected to meet this has been forwarded to Parliament to be debated tomorrow. "If the Bill is passed, we expect to strengthen the body and help eradicate corruption by a higher percentage," he added. This is the first instance that the Director has been directly approached with a bribe unlike previous cases where corrupt individuals approach KACC officials. However, he said the individuals failed to turn up adding that they might have been tipped off since the commission had informed the CID of the meeting. His remarks come just a day after Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka cited a plot by some members of parliament to oust Lumumba from the helm of the anti-graft body.