Seven MPs, led by Budalangi's Ababu Namwamba, have protested the presence in Kenya of Jersey Island solicitor-general to lobby the government to extradite two Kenyans August 3, 2011. FILE
By JOHN NGIRACHU jngirachu@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Wednesday, August 3 2011 at 14:37
Posted Wednesday, August 3 2011 at 14:37
Seven MPs have protested the presence in Kenya of Jersey Island solicitor-general to lobby the government to extradite two Kenyans.
The MPs asserted that Kenya is capable of trying Chris Okemo, the Nambale MP, and Samuel Gichuru, who was head of the then Kenya Power and Lighting Company over money laundering claims.
MPs Walter Nyambati, Ababu Namwamba, Charles Kilonzo and Mohammed Affey said the presence in the country of Howard Sharp amounts to undue influence on the High Court, which is currently handling a case for the extradition of the two Kenyans.
They were joined at the press conference at Parliament Buildings by legislators Justus Kizito, Charles Onyancha and Moriasi Ombui.
The thrust of their argument is that Mr Sharp’s presence amounts to undue interference on the court to rule for the extradition of the two prominent Kenyans.
They also accused the British government, of which Jersey is a protected territory, of double standards over the delay in bringing back to Kenya Gilbert Deya and Yagnesh Devani to face justice at home.
“Our courts should be given a chance and ensure due process is followed. We are not advocating for crimes,” said Mr Nyambati, who is also vice chairman of the Parliamentary Service Commission.
He argued that the Judiciary, which is now under a new Chief Justice Dr Willy Mutunga, should be capable of handling the cases against the Nambale MP and Mr Gichuru.
Mr Kilonzo said the MPs “would like the two cases tried here because the British have double standards” in delaying the extradition of Mr Devani and Mr Deya.
Mr Devani is wanted in Kenya over corruption allegations in the fuel industry while Mr Deya is wanted over child trafficking.
Said Mr Namwamba: “The presence of judicial officers from Jersey and the concerted efforts from the United Kingdom’s officials on the Kenyan government would amount to undue pressure on the courts.”
“Tell me whether any Kenyan official can travel to the United Kingdom or Jersey to seek the extradition of a wanted person back to Kenya,” he added.
Mr Namwamba equated the current case to that where Kenyans suspected of being behind the twin bomb attacks in Kampala were sent to Uganda without due court process.
He said the government should therefore “not make the mistake of again casually handing over Kenyans to another country".
“They should be tried, prosecuted and grilled here. I had in fact wanted to raise it in Parliament but now that a critical mass of MPs is concerned, I’m happy it has come here,” said Mr Affey.
Mr Okemo and Mr Gichuru are accused of using their positions as Finance minister and KPLC managing director respectively to seek bribes from companies that had energy contracts.
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