Category Archives: Corruption

Kenya: Father Omolo Beste’s Homily on Fourth Sunday of Lent

Leave a reply

From: joachim omolo ouko
Sunday, March 30, 2014

Today is fourth Sunday of Lent. The Lenten campaign theme is Good Governance. First reading is from 1 Samuel 16:1.6.7.10-13, second reading is from St Paul’s letter to Ephesians 5:8-14 and the Gospel from John 9:1-41.The story is about Tswani community who were so excited that with devolved their community would be provided with better service delivery.

They thought the new system would bring leadership closer to the people and that that all be involved in decision-making. Barely a year after the polls, some of the community and village leaders had already clearly put their own interests before those of the community and the villages.

They mismanaged funds allocated to the communities, moved into big expensive houses, bought themselves big cars that cost millions of shillings, furnished their offices with expensive furniture and spent huge sums on entertainment and trips abroad.

The campaign comes at the time Kenya’s Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) is due to launch investigations into 30 county governors after receiving complaints of abuse of office and misuse of funds.

It is also at the time the State cannot account for Sh500b, which got lost during the 2011/12 financial year. Taxpayers lost more than Sh300 billion, but the latest estimates indicate the figure could rise to nearly Sh500 billion according to Auditor General Edward Ouko.

Ouko estimates that up to 30 per cent of the Government’s total budget in any financial year is wasted. Last year, Sh338 billion of the total government expenditure for 2011/2012 was unaccounted-for.

The total budget for the 2012/2013 financial year stood at Sh1.45 trillion, of which 30 per cent or Sh483 billion is likely to be misappropriated. Airtime, flowers and tea alone were reported to account for Sh338 billion.

The campaign is also coming at the time several business surveys reveal that business corruption is still widespread and that companies frequently encounter demands for bribes and informal payments to ‘get things done’ in Kenya.

There are also pending corruption cases which include Kenya Pipeline Company since 2008 in oil scam involving privately-owned Triton Oil Company in which the government lost 7.5 billion shillings ($86.7 million).

The other pending cases of corruption include land fraud over a deal worth 283 million shillings ($3.2 million) since March 2010. Currently the Kenyatta government has also been hit by claims of irregularities in the award of the Sh447 billion Mombasa-Nairobi standard gauge railway that critics say has been overpriced by more than Sh120 billion.

It is about the time Labour secretary Kazungu Kambi was forced to suspend a Sh5.03 billion project by the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) to build infrastructure works in Nairobi’s Tassia Estate.

China Jiangxi International was awarded the Hazina Trade Center contract at a cost of Shs 6.7 billion despite a lower bid of Shs 5.9 billion by China Wu Yi, another Chinese company. The award of the tender raised eyebrows before Atwoli blew the whistle on the Shs 5 billion sewerage and road pavement scam.

Kenyans are also losing more than Sh1.8 billion annually in salary payments to ghost workers in the Civil Service. According to recent revelation the government flushes Sh150 million monthly in salaries for workers who are non-existent, dead, retired or sacked – but are still retained in the State payroll – hence ballooning Kenya’s public wage bill.

Kenya’s public sector wage bill currently stands at Sh458.7 billion, which is equivalent to 12.2 per cent of GDP. The amount is almost equal to the Sh470.8 billion the Kenya Revenue Authority collected in the six months to December 2013; and almost half of the expected total revenue of Sh973.5 billion targeted to be collected by June this year.

It explains why Kenya’s debt load crossed the 50 per cent of GDP mark late last year to stand at Sh2.11 trillion or 57 per cent of GDP by end of December 2013. Unless Kenya puts a tight lid on its debt load by fighting against corruption its economy will not be on a steady growth path.

Fiscal discipline will break down and disrupt provision of public services if the wage bill growth is left unchecked. The country’s image abroad is already at stake following the failure by the Treasury to allocate Sh679 million to cater for subscription fees to international bodies.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail obolobeste@gmail.com

Omolo_ouko@outlook.com
Facebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@8000accomole

What we can learn from India’s war on corruption?

Leave a reply

From: Yona Maro

It appears that honesty comes at a cost that no one wants to bear. Corporations shy away from transparency, as many believe it may hurt their interests. Everyone wants the other one to be honest first.

Governments, politicians and business leaders can’t stop talking about it. But few want to start doing something about it. Besides, according to the corruption barometer, government agencies and private corporations are perceived to be the most corrupt.

So what can be done to convert talk into action? What can be done to prod organizations, leaders and institutions to draw their swords on corruption?

Naming and shaming, for one. Governments and industry bodies should start publicly identifying organizations and individuals who are caught in bribery cases.

Often, industry links anti-corruption activity with investor sentiment. If governments act tough, industry says, investments will fall. Instead of bringing best practices to new markets, global companies are being accused of undermining laws. Leaders and officials in Mongolia say privately that multinational corporations are deploying a worrying combination of muscle, charm and bribery to get lucrative contracts.

Industry leaders have to give up this attitude. They must come together and ensure that companies do not focus on competitive corruption. Those who are out of line should be exposed. From crooked cartels, we need to build clean coalitions.

But it’s not down to the private sector alone: governments should create policies that reduce the scope of corruption. When India auctioned 2G spectrum in an opaque manner in 2008, it resulted in a multibillion-dollar scandal that scalped a minister and senior officials. Many telecom companies lost their licences to operate. Quick to learn from the fiasco, the 3G spectrum allocation, which earned billions for government, was held through an open online auction. There was not a whisper of corruption.
Link:
http://forumblog.org/2014/01/can-learn-indias-war-corruption/

Yona Fares Maro
Institut d’études de sécurité – SA

KENYA: LAND WAR WITH CARTELS NGILU WILL NEVER WIN

Leave a reply

From: joachim omolo ouko
News Dispatch with Father Omolo Beste
SATURDAY, MARCH 22, 2014

Lands Cabinet Secretary Charity Ngilu has began war with land cartels that she will definitely not win. Ngilu is well aware of this fact that ending corruption and entrenched land cartels at the ministry would not be as easy as she thinks.

Big money is already threatening to stall and derail the land reforms agenda, a fact that the National Land Commission has admitted. This includes the multi-billion shilling favourite hunt for land barons keen to offload large tracks of land to government at handsome prices.

Ngilu should be aware that historically the lands office has always been a company and not a State office. In other words, even the president cannot win this war.

The delay of issuing title deeds was her first encounter with the reality of how the process had been tampered to favour the land barons who include the lands officials at her ministry, right from the headquarters to the district land officers.

These cartels are working with influential businessmen, politicians and government officials in falsifying land registration documents that resulted in the issuance of more than one title deed in most parts of the country, especially at the Coast.

Ngilu has admitted publicly that many of these cartels have planted themselves in every corner and they are always faceless to the public. They operate through brokers. They could be your friends by day and enemies at night.

Cartels of land officers are well organized. They include lawyers, real estate agents and brokers who are duping innocent Kenyans into buying non-existent land. They use existing deed plans documents showing location and divisions on land to tamper with records at the Lands ministry.

These are the very people are behind the runaway cases of people buying land belonging to other people. The Syokimau demolitions that saw Kenyans lose millions of shillings in investment serves as the best example.

Once the racketeers identify a piece of land they wish to “sell”, they alert their contacts at the Lands ministry who prepare a parallel set of fake documents which they use to dupe their victims.

They usually start their scavenging at the Nairobi City Council where they scour records for details of land transactions that have been approved, including sub-divisions, by town planning committees.

Armed with this information, they forge letters purporting to be from the council indicating an approval, complete with dates and the plots that need to be sub-divided. The forged letters will have different land reference numbers. For instance, if the block title was 54/784, the racketeers could indicate their land reference as 54/256.

The racketeers also ensure that they include the exact date the Commissioner of Lands approved the sub-division. This is allegedly done in collusion with officers in the Ministry of Lands.

You wonder how they do this. Recent investigation by Standard media groups revealed how they do it. Because the original title deed ought to be surrendered, the racketeers generate plot numbers different from the original ones.

According to investigation what helps them is that the part of the title block numbers for the genuine plots will have changed. The number 54 and the new numbers is what remains, e.g. 54/89-320.

The land fraudsters will then come up with fake numbers all of which will begin with 54/, for example 54/850-1081. This can easily convince buyers who do not make thorough investigations when acquiring land. The conmen do not stop at that.

Since busy lawyers will send their clerks, and in some cases, the clerks will share the details of the plot with the fraudsters who will prepare similar titles, it is only prudent for a buyer to spare the time to go to the ministry personally.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail obolobeste@gmail.com

Omolo_ouko@outlook.com
Facebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@8000accomole

KENYA: WHY UHURU’S PLAN TO WEED CORRUPTION IS A BIG CHALLENGE

Leave a reply

From: joachim omolo ouko
News Dispatch with Father Omolo Beste
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014

Stephen from Longisa, Bomet County writes: “Fr Omolo Beste I always like your opinions on Kenyan politics and courage. What is your opinion on President Uhuru’s yesterday remarks that his Government will put in place policies, systems and procedures that are intolerant to corruption, assuring Kenyans that his Government will fully support the EACC 5 year’s strategic plan of combating corruption.

He also said his Jubilee Government is ready to introduce further reforms to strengthen governance and to fight corruption and economic crime, and will remain determined to protect public resources, and to use them prudently and for the purposes for which they are intended, what about the powerful cartels of corruption surrounding him. I read your recent article how it will be difficult for him to weed them out.”

Stephen you are absolutely right. Even Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission Chairperson Mumo Matemu has complained that lack of a national anti-corruption policy to guide the fight against the vice may affect investigation and recovery of assets because those who looted and still continue to do so are powerful individuals.

You can imagine President Uhuru laying policies that can recover looted resources from former president Moi, grabbed lands as per Ndungu report which include powerful individuals outside and inside his Government.

How can Uhuru dare recover the looted resources from powerful individuals mentioned in Golden and Anglo Leasing scandals, individual cartels in Central bank and entire treasury and his Office?

You can already see how this reform and policies Uhuru is talking about is just like a dog that barks but cannot bite. Kenya is still far from fighting corruption Stephen. There are no indicators that this will be achieved.

You can ask yourself this question: who will be responsible of the design and management of the indicators system for each strategic plan? Generally, strategic planning deals with at least one of three key questions.

“What do we do?”

“For whom do we do it?”

“How do we excel?”

For the strategic plan to succeed it must include an understanding of an entity’s vision, mission, values and strategies. How such policies and reforms will in long term or short term possible end corruption in Kenya.

Is mission able to define the fundamental purpose how these policies and reforms will achieve its vision? These questions are very important because they will help you to design whether these policies and reforms Uhuru is talking about are effective. Whether they articulate actions needed to make progress, and whether they are sustainable and measurable.

Stephen I don’t know whether you have asked yourself this question: if the fraudulent resides in President Uhuru’s office, uses his name and office to loot, cannot be touched because of his or her connections, and is his appointee, how can he fight corruption?

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail obolobeste@gmail.com

Omolo_ouko@outlook.com
Facebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@8000accomole

HOW CHINESE FIRMS ARE USED BY JUBILEE MAFIAS TO STEAL TAX PAYERS MONEY

Leave a reply

From: joachim omolo ouko
News Dispatch with Father Omolo Beste
MONDAY, MARCH 17, 2014

Jacob from Nairobi writes: “Fr Beste I agree with your recent article that President Uhuru cannot do away with cartels of corruption in his Jubilee government and that corruption is in every government sector, from bottom to the top.

Father it is very sad that Sh3.9 billion used by NHIF to build a multi-storey car park at Upper Hill in Nairobi cannot be justified according to report by Auditor-General Edward Ouko. The audit also questions a decision by NSSF to invest more than Sh1.1 billion of workers’ money in public forests, which are gazetted areas, and which cannot be owned or developed. This is terrible.

Even though during the National Dialogue Conference on the rising wage bill last week, President Uhuru criticised NSSF’s investment policy, there is nothing much he can do to recover the stolen money”.

I am glad you have realized this Jacob. President Uhuru cannot do away with cartels of corruption in his Jubilee government because these are powerful brokers targeting multi-billion shilling government tenders.

These are the same “mafia style operators” who were involved in the multi-billion shilling Anglo-Leasing scandal, whose debt the national Treasury has not recovered since it was exposed in 2002.

These mafias are known. Even Jubilee leaders close to Uhuru have admitted they cannot be exposed publicly because they are individuals well known by Uhuru and his deputy William Ruto “since they are hiding under government skirts”.

It explains why, even thoug the President and his deputy were given seven days to name these people who have perfected the art of corruption through successive governments but has since never exposed them.

These are the same mafias who are behind the standard gauge railway project scandal, laptops among other tenders.

That is also why the directives by the Director of Public Prosecution Keriako Tobiko that former Cabinet minister Amos Kimunya is prosecuted over alleged abuse of office and fraudulent disposal and acquisition of public property means nothing.

The charges are in connection with a 25 acre piece of public land in Njambini, Nyandarua County that was part of a 75-acre plot reserved by the Agriculture ministry for a potato seed multiplication project.

Kimunya, while Lands minister during President Mwai Kibaki’s government, caused part of the land to be allocated to Midlands, a company in which he was a director and shareholder, without the consent of the Agriculture ministry.

Kimunya held various ministerial posts during the 10 years of Kibaki presidency with scandals but Kibaki never laid hands on him. He started as Land minister before moving to Finance, Trade and finally Transport, all with scandals.

Even after Kimunya was defeated by his former ally Samuel Gichigi in the March 2013 elections after which he retired to a quiet private life, Kimunya is still powerful and close ally to Uhuru Kenyatta.

Kimunya is aware of this that is why when he was forced to cut short his appearance before the Public Investments Committee after was declared a hostile witness while testifying on the standard gauge railway project, Uhuru never mentioned anything about him.

It explains further, why in 2008 when Parliament passed a vote of no confidence against Kimunya while he was serving as Finance minister over the sale of the Grand Regency Hotel, now Laico Regency, instead Kibaki reinstated him, this time as minister for trade.

Kimunya then criticized the Parliamentary Finance committee over the Grand Regency report, accusing the MPs of focusing on his character instead of proving that there was corruption. It was alleged that Kibaki new about the sale of the Hotel since he was part of it.

That is also why as Finance minister, when Kimunya was involved in controversies over the Safaricom privatisation and the De la Rue currency printing contract, Kibaki could not sack him, and instead he kept silence about the issue.

While in 2010, when MPs accused Kimunya, while Transport minister, of making appointments from one community only at the Kenya Ports Authority, in August 2012 when he became entangled in the cancellation of a Sh55 billion tender for the construction of a new terminal at the JKIA, he was untouchable.

Even after the Public Procurement and Oversight Authority later declared Kimunya’s actions regarding the airport tender illegal, Kibaki could not take any action against him. Instead the PPOA reinstated the Chinese firm that was originally awarded the tender.

The same powerful mafias have now hijacked the National Social Security Fund’s (NSSF) two housing upgrade projects worth Sh12 billion in Nairobi, leading to award of the contracts to a Chinese firm.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail obolobeste@gmail.com

Omolo_ouko@outlook.com
Facebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@8000accomole

Africa’s Willing Taxpayers Thwarted by Opaque Tax Systems, Corruption

Leave a reply

From: Yona Maro

Afrobarometer survey data, covering 29 countries in sub-Saharan Africa reveal widespread citizen commitment to the principle of taxation and to taking responsibility – by paying their taxes – for national development. But taxation systems across the continent remain opaque to large majorities. Most find it difficult to know what they owe, and the public is even more in the dark when it comes to understanding how tax revenues are actually used by governments. Moreover, perceived corruption among tax authorities remains significant, and evidence suggests these perceptions undermine public commitment to the integrity of the tax system and increase the likelihood of non-compliance.
link:
http://allafrica.com/download/resource/main/main/idatcs/00080971:c99eb6b369b03c20dde4210a867c6c05.pdf

—
Yona Fares Maro
Institut d’études de sécurité – SA

KENYANS MUST SUPPORT PRESIDENT KENYATTA’S EFFORT TO REDUCE HUGE WAGE BILL.

Leave a reply

Commentary by Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

The move made by President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto by voluntarily offering 20 per cent of their monthly salary reduction in order to relieve the country out of overburdening huge wage bill is a good gesture should be appreciate by all Kenyans of goodwill.

However, it must be taken into account that the President at a personal level is not feeling the heat of the current skyrocketing inflationary situation, which has pushed the prices of the basic commodities beyond the reach of many Kenyan families.

As the sojourner of the of prestigious State House, the President and his family are enjoying free supply of rations free medical facilities and free education of his siblings, all the bills footed by the state unlike thousands of the ordinary Kenyans who can now hardly afford to put their food on the table.

Nevertheless, it is my passionate appeal to him, to consider the options of abolishing so many money guzzling commissions, though all this would require political will. This would require the backing of both the Senate and Parliament.

The government should draft and introduce radical surgery involving a major constitutional amendment abolishing nomination seats in parliament and the national assembly as well as the luxury of nominated MCAs. With the present 290 parliamentary electoral constituencies, 47 Senate representatives and 47 women and as such the electorate in this country are well represented in all important legislative organs. In this context the only essential groups that need special representation and perhaps a few nominations are those people with physical disabilities. The huge wage bill which Kenya is currently under the obligation to meet the payment is the civil servants

It is also time the for the new constitution had explicitly abolished under the devolution processes.

It is worth for Kenyans to remember that during his election campaign for his re-election to his second term, the former President Mwai Kibaki made a big political blunder by dishing out the “political districts”, the erratic move which had seen New administrative districts recklessly being created in some areas which were previously administered by the locations administrative chiefs being promoted made district. Some of the Kibaki districts should be scrapped and revert to their former areas of jurisdiction. The creation of the new districts had inflated the pay bill for civil servants by nearly 35 per cent.

As a resident of Nyanza Province I can offer the example of old Migori district in the greater Southern Nyanza. Migori, which is now a County has new eight districts. There used to be only four, which include Kuria, Rongo and Migori. But today there are eight administrative district, which included, Rongo, Awendo, Uriri, Suna East, Suna West and Nyaike plus the two Kuria East and Kuria West. In all these new districts there are D.Cs, Dos and Chiefs and their assistants. What a crazy kind administrative arrangement is this?

Members of the Provincial Administration are redundant and idle and should either be redeployed into other government Ministries or be sent home with immediate effect.

His EXCELLENCY President Kenyatta should make a bold step and brig the Administration Police and the regular police under one command of the Inspector General of Police instead of maintaining the APs as different entity and yet they are supposed to be offering the same service.

At the same time the government should cut down unnecessary seminars, workshops and conferences at all levels of the national government and the counties. Uncalled for foreign trips, which of late have become a burden to Kenya taxpayers should be discouraged. And also non-performing Cabinet Secretaries, particularly those whose ministries are reportedly bedeviled with corruptions should be axed immediately.

Cabinet Secretaries should attend the meetings of both Senate and Parliament and be always available to answer the members questions. A certain category of public servants working for the Counties should be on secondment from the national government allowing the Counties to recruit only the lower cadres of workers for their purpose of maintaining efficiency in service delivery by the county governments. I am sure President Kenyatta meant well for the down trodden Kenya and he should also instruct his aides to be mindful of other Kenyans who are wallowing in abject poverty.

Ends

Signed by Leo Odera Omolo.

About the author: He.Is a retired veteran journalist who comments occasionally on topical issues.

KENYAN LEADERS ARE INTERESTED IN LOOTING NOT ACHIEVEMENTS

Leave a reply

From: joachim omolo ouko
News Dispatch with Father Omolo Beste
TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2014

Dennis from Nairobi writes: “Dear Father Beste, I find Kenyans interesting when one achieves like Lupita did we are proud but when it comes to leadership on the political scene like the late Okoth Owiro ( may his Soul rest in peace ) once said it is all about misdemeanor, harangue and intrigue.

Why can’t we just play to the rules of the game? You saw what happened on Friday with ODM elections, I need not say more. Let us like Lupita play the second fiddle look at the role she played it was humiliating, hurting and humbling but from thence she has achieved greatness, not just in Kenya but the worldwide.

It reminds me of the late Professor Wangari Mathaai during Moi’s regime, real achievers not given what they deserve in terms of recognition and respect yet looters, conmen, mediocre pampered with accolades and titles they don’t deserve not to mention the offices they hold.

Let us cast our eyes yonder and consider what is excellent and what is honorable. Kenya can do better. Look at the battle of supremacy all misplaced forgetting that what matters is service to the people of Kenya”

You are absolutely right Dennis. Our Kenyan leaders are busy strategizing how much they can loot in order to be billionaires overnight. That is why they are not interested in Kenyan achievers like Lupita Nyong’o among others.

That is also why Moi’s regime did notrecognize late Professor Wangari Mathaai achievement because she was against looters in his government, including land grabbers. Kenyan politicians are historically known for their state finances laundering across the world to buy properties and companies in London, New York and South Africa and even a 10,000 hectare ranch in Australia.

The leaked document, dated April 2004, is clearly self explanatory – being one of the preliminary reports received by the Government of Kenya (described in the report as the “client”). The persons stated as “Targets” are President Moi’s closest associates and relatives.

Kibaki’s regime was no different. He was surrounded with conmen, looters and grabbers. Within a short time of his rule allegations that corruption had cost Kenya $1bn – nearly a fifth of its state budget featured prominently.

It was the latest in a series of setbacks for President Kibaki since his National Rainbow Coalition (Narc) won a landslide victory in the December 2002 elections. Two of these involve the procurement of passport equipment and police forensic science labs.

The mediocre employee always arrives late to work, blaming the weather or traffic or some other bad luck. This is just because work is not their priority, theirs is how to loot and become billionaires.

That is why once at the office, they take a long time to settle down to work. They come late and leave earlier. They are among the first to go for tea break and lunch, and among the last to get back to his desk. Even when they are actually at their desk, they are usually chatting on their phone or with fellow employees.

Negative ethnicity is then used as a tool to distance themselves from realities. The result of it is hatred among and between communities. This is the similar hatred that developed into conflict as witnessed in 2007/08 and the Rwandan genocide.

This tool undermines nationalism, exacerbates corruption and poor governance as those in power use their communities to shield from public scrutiny and accountability.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail obolobeste@gmail.com

Omolo_ouko@outlook.com
Facebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@8000accomole

KENYA: UHURU AND RUTO RISK RE-ELECTION IF THEY GET RID OF CARTELS OF CORRUPTION

Leave a reply

From: joachim omolo ouko
News Dispatch with Father Omolo Beste
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2014

Carolyn from Nairobi writes: “Fr Beste thank you for the review of Lenten campaign 2014 booklet. I have a question which has been bothering me very much. My daughter Stacy is 11 years old and has been asking me why Catholics abstain from meat on Fridays during lent.

In my house I don’t cook meat on Fridays even though sometimes Stacy would like to eat meat on that day. What age is forbidden to eat meat?”

Maurice from Lodwar writes: Fr Omolo I always read your articles you post on your Jaluo.Kom. You must be very courageous Father because some of them are direct to the point and you call a spade a spade. Now my question is, do you think President Uhuru and his deputy Ruto can end corruption in Kenya given that the mafia cartels of corruption operate from their offices? Thank you and continue doing this good apostolate.”

Thank you for the question Carolyn. Abstaining from meat on Fridays during lent is the precept number 4 of the Catholic Church (You shall observe the days of fasting and abstinence established by the Church”) in accordance to Canon Law 1252.

It states that only on Fridays in Lent are Catholics, aged 14 and older, bound to abstain from meat. It means your daughter Stacy can just eat meat. Nevertheless, pastors and parents are to see to it that minors who are not bound by the law of fast and abstinence are educated in an authentic sense of penance.

Can. 1253 further states that it is for the conference of bishops to determine more precisely the observance of fast and abstinence and to substitute in whole or in part for fast and abstinence other forms of penance, especially works of charity and exercises of piety.

Thank you for your encouraging compliments Maurice. There are several reasons why Uhuru and Ruto won’t succeed on ending corruption in Kenya. Firstly, the mafia cartels of corruption are powerful individual Kenyans in the Office of the President (OP), under which the Directorate of Personnel Management (DPM) has been domiciled for decades.

This is the most corrupt institution in the country, a fact that the President has admitted. The most corrupt institution in the Office of the President is the internal security docket followed by the Defence docket that has also been under the OP for long and has often been cited as a den of corruption.

The Provincial Administration is no exception, with even funds for IDPs and relief food not being spared. These are powerful cartels that have looted this country and have used the OP as their entry point.

Office of the President is the office that directs who gets what mega contracts in which ministry or department, including the standard railway gauge contract. It is the office where the network of cartels built around the Head of Public Service continues to haunt ministries to date.

Secondly, Uhuru and Ruto cannot end corruption in Kenya because it is the very office, where the same cartels have created the web of cartels that have fleeced this nation continue to be retained in high places in government.

These are untouchable powerful cartels, and so are the senior managers who do their bidding in Deputy President’s Office. These are the cartels who systematically plan for ghost workers’ salaries and various employment sectors.

If Uhuru and Ruto make a mistake of rooting them out, it means they risk being re-elected in office. These are the financers of leaders who promise would work with them if elected.

In fact cartels of corruption in Kenya are many like weed and have spread in all the government sectors. It means if you weed them out other weeds will grow. This is because cartels create themselves as a business system based on global business, special interests, corruption, greed, organized crime and other interests.

Just as Uhuru and Ruto promise to end corruption, Government tenders worth Sh461.8 billion are currently embroiled in controversy, with questions being asked about the procedures followed in awarding them.

They include the Sh425 billion standard gauge railway, the Sh22 billion school laptops project, the Sh13 billion National Social Security Fund tender involving Tassia scheme and Hazina Towers and the estimated Sh1.8 billion paid annually to ghost workers on the government’s payroll.

Given their powerful system is why since 1989 the government has not been able to arrest and charge cartels behind Turkwel Hydroelectric Power Station project. The dam was built at three times the estimated cost, twice the allocated amount and producing energy significantly below capacity.

It is also why the longest-running scandal in the Goldenberg, where the Kenyan government subsidised exports of gold, paying exporters in Kenyan Shillings (Sh) 35 percent over their foreign currency earnings have not been arraigned in court of law.

In this case, the gold was smuggled from Congo. The Goldenberg scandal cost Kenya the equivalent of more than 10 percent of the country’s annual GDP.

The next is to do with a Sh360 million helicopter servicing contract in South Africa in 1998. Despite the military officers argument that the contract was too extravagant and servicing the helicopters could be done locally the government at that time had no power to stop the tender.

Kenya Air Force (KAF) went ahead to spend Sh108 million as a down payment for servicing the Puma helicopters, whose tail number is logged as 418 at Denel Aviation, a South African firm.

Another one was in 2003 when military was split over plans to buy new Czech fighter jets. The plan to buy the jet fighters would have cost taxpayers Sh12.3 billion.

Then it came 2005 plans to buy a sophisticated £20 million passport equipment system from France, as government wanted to replace its passport printing system, created conditions for corruption scandal.

The transaction was originally quoted at 6 million euros from François Charles Oberthur of Paris (a supplier of Visa and MasterCards) but was awarded to a British firm, the Anglo-Leasing and Finance Company Limited, at 30 million euros, who would have sub-contracted the same French firm to do the work.

Despite the lack of competitive tendering Anglo Leasing was paid a “commitment fee” of more than £600,000.

In November 2006, when the government was accused of failing to act on a banking fraud scam worth $1.5bn involving money laundering and tax evasion, nothing could be done to stop the scandal.

The same year, when British Foreign Office minister Kim Howells warned, that corruption in Kenya is increasing the UK’s exposure to drug trafficking and terrorism, nothing was done.

In September 2007, when documents exposing a 500 million Kenyan shilling payroll fraud at Egerton University and subsequent cover up were released, the subject of ongoing legal dispute in the High Court just ended prematurely.

And in June 2008 when the Grand Regency Scandal broke, wherein the Central Bank of Kenya was alleged to have secretly sold a luxury hotel in Nairobi to an unidentified group of Libyan investors for more than 4 billion Kenyan Shillings (approx US $60 million) below the appraised market value, nothing the government of Kibaki could do.

Finance Minister Amos Kimunya negotiated the sale, and was censured in a near-unanimous motion by the Kenyan Parliament, he was briefly suspended. He was re-instated with no expiation.

This followed on the heels of the Safaricom IPO, overseen by Kimunya, which had been alternatively praised and questioned for possible corruption in the execution of the sale. Safaricom is the largest mobile phone service provider in Kenya, having operated with a near-government monopoly for many years. The government of Kenya sold its 50 percent stake in Safaricom in the IPO.

Then there was a scandal became public over the sale of imported maize in 2009, the Triton Oil Scandal regarding the unauthorised releasing of oil by Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) without informing financiers and in October 2012 Japanese land by Foreign Affairs ministry officials that could have saved the country loss of Sh1.1 billion. Moses Wetengular was the minister then.

The litany is so long that you cannot finish in a day. This is just to demonstrate how cartels of corruption surrounding State House are untouchable.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail obolobeste@gmail.com

Omolo_ouko@outlook.com
Facebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@8000accomole

EFFECT OF BAD GOVERNANCE IN KENYA

Leave a reply

From: joachim omolo ouko
News Dispatch with Father Omolo Beste
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2015

Rose from Kericho writes: “Fr Beste I was so happy when I saw Archbishop Zacchaeus Okoth of Kisumu in an exclusive interview with Waumini Communications Limited at the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) General Secretariat, saying Catholic Bishops in Kenya have contributed 2.5 Million, equivalent to 30,000 US Dollars to alleviate hunger in Turkana County.

I was so excited when I saw His Excellency Charles Daniel Balvo, the Popes representative to Kenya extending a cheque of one million shillings to the Bishop of Lodwar, Rt. Rev. Dominic Kimengich, towards general food distribution to households and school feeding program on February 3, 2014.

Now Fr Beste, my worry is that, do you think the Government of Kenya is going to heed to the call by Zacchaeus Okoth to find a way of utilizing the discovered large volume of water in Turkana that geologists say can feed Kenya for 70 year to eradicate poverty in the region through irrigation?”

This was a good concern by the Kenya Catholic Conference of Bishops Rose. The bishops had asked each diocese to contribute Ksh 100,000 towards that. Turkana falls under Lodwa Diocese that is why His Excellency Charles Daniel Balvo presented the cheque to the bishop of Lodwa.

Your worry whether Kenya Government will heed to Archbishop Okoth’s call for irrigation is a worry of the majority of Kenyans, Turkana and Pokot included. There are several reasons why Kenya Government won’t bother implementing irrigation schemes in Turkan and elsewhere in semi-arid areas.

One major reason is to do with bad leadership and governance in Kenya. Poor governance as a result of leaders not implementing reform agendas, not ensuring the citizens have access to basic needs, non accountability, passing of policies and laws that oppress people, not fighting impunity providing an environment where citizens don’t enjoy their rights.

This includes the manipulation of electoral process to remain in power, failure to uphold independence, failure of police and other security to keep law and order, misuse of public funds by government officials for their personal benefit, and voluntary or forced bribery by citizens to obtain services which they should be entitled to.

It explains why in Kenya, corruption in public institutions has been a telling indicator of wider governance-related problems, such as lack of democratic space for Kenyan citizens and insufficient government interest in political reform.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail obolobeste@gmail.com

Omolo_ouko@outlook.com
Facebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@8000accomole

Oil & Mining; Hunger Scorecard;

Leave a reply

From: Yona Maro
Subject: Oil & Mining Countries: Transparency Low Official Impunity High

A survey of public opinion in 22 countries which stake their countries’ economic futures on development of mineral or oil production.
Link:
http://allafrica.com/download/resource/main/main/idatcs/00080431:218c13398d4344cd90df9701ba8e7f5a.pdf

From: Yona Maro
Subject: 2014 Africa Multiple Indicator Scorecard on Hunger and Food Security.

New 2014 Africa Multiple Indicator Scorecard on Hunger and Food Security.

Link:
http://allafrica.com/download/resource/main/main/idatcs/00080509:c4065c285335e1a6173fa8bcceda7b41.pdf

—
Find Jobs in Africa Jobs in Africa
International Job Opportunities International Job Opportunities
Jobs in Kenya Jobs in Kenya

Data Disclosure, Accountability and the Facets of Transparency

Leave a reply

From: Yona Maro

A substantial literature links government transparency to political accountability, and hence to governance outcomes. Yet transparency is a multifaceted concept – broadly defined it may pertain to any aspect of information transmission. Theoretically, it is critical to assess what information is being transmitted, and transmitted to whom. Empirical work, however, has often neglected such distinctions, focusing instead on proxies for a nebulous conception of ‘openness.’

In this paper, we offer a framework for conceptualizing various forms of transparency. We introduce our own index of a particular facet of transparency – which focuses on the disclosure of aggregate economic data – and relate this form of transparency to other cross-national measures. We seek to take one step toward clarifying theoretical mechanisms and the empirical measures. In so doing, we also offer guidance on assessing which facets and measures of transparency are relevant to assessing which theoretical mechanisms.
Link:
http://www.tc.umn.edu/~jhollyer/TransparencyFacetsNewPaperDraft3.pdf?utm_content=buffer24922&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

—
Find Jobs in Africa Jobs in Africa
International Job Opportunities International Job Opportunities
Jobs in Kenya Jobs in Kenya

Kenya: Atwoli reacts

Leave a reply

By JEFF OTIENO.

Cotu Secretary General Francis Atwoli Has dismissed claims by some section of Coast politicians that their people in plum government positions are being targeted. Claims which appeared in a section of the press was emphatic that plans had been hatched and finalised to ensure that their people be sacked from the government.

“If you’re corrupt and incompetent as an officer in the establishment don’t hide in your tribal cocoons as away of salvaging your diminishing image or fate”,

The coast leaders were trying to defend the besieged Cabinet Secretary for Labour Kazungu Kambi who has been taken to court by a civil society crusader Charles Omanga on grounds of alleged incompetence and dubious academic credentials.

The case is slated for hearing on 11th Feb. in the High Court Nairobi.

Kambi is of late marooned with accusations that together with NSSF CEO and the board they failed to follow procurement procedures to award a Chinese firm multi Billion project. Atwoli together with FKE Chair person Jackline Mugo have maintained that procurement provisions were violated to favour the Chinese outfit culminating to cancellation of the tender.

“As Cotu we will always remain steadfast to ensure that Kenyan workers interests is catered for and we won’t condone these heartless cartels whose only agenda is to milk our workers dry”, Atwoli said.

ENDS

KENYA: DRUGS TRAFFICKING FROM NYANZA NEED TO BE INVESTIGATED BY COMPETENT AUTHORITIES

1 Reply

CAN THE GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATE CLAIMS THAT ROGUE POLICE OFFICERS ARE INVOLVED IN DRUG TRAFFICKING IN NYANZA?

Investigative Report By Leo Odera Omolo

The easiest way of stamping out bhang trafficking from Nyanza to Nairobi and to other Kenya towns and other illicit cross border trades is to equip the Kenya police with speed boats similar to those deployed in Lake Victoria by the Uganda marine Police.

There is also need to overhaul top policemen working in the sensitive border regions and counties like Migori, Nyatike and Suba regions.

There is rampant rumors, allegations and claims of police complicity in the lucrative bhang trafficking in the region trades. In some yet to be proved incidences racketeers involved in the illicit trades are said to be enjoying protection by some rogue and un-patriotic policemen stationed in the smuggling spots in Migori and Nyatike county.

The recent events and happening shows the illicit drugs coming into the country via porous Kenyan borders with the neighboring countries via Lake Victoria waters.

Large consignments of bhang get into Kenyan mainland side of Lake Victoria through the disputed Migingo Island. Other smaller fishing islands located on Kenya side of Lake Victoria also being used by the drug traffickers as conduit for smuggling and easy access to the mainland regions and eventually to the markets

Such spots include Migingo, Ugingo, Ringiti, Lolwe, Ngodhe and Oyamo islands.

Bhang is also grown in abundance in Sigulu island which is about 10 kilometers off Budalangi shoreline in Busia county. However, smaller quantity of bhang is also said making its way from Tanzania into Kenya on the main Migori highway that is linking the town to Sirare border post. But the ever presence of policemen on checkpoints and road blocks on the road has curtailed the trafficking forcing the smugglers to use ‘panya’ routes using bicycles and boda boda motorbikes.

Reports emerging from Musoma and Tarime towns say bhang is grown in large quantities in some parts of the world famous Serengeti National Gane Parkand in the neighbouring Ukerewe island In Tanzania

Other landing spots of bhang smuggled from Tanzania include Sori and Muhuru Bay towns in Nyatike sub-county within the larger Migori County

A truck loaded with bhang was recently spotted as it loads the illicit drug behind a store in Sori whose street value was estimated to be around Ksh. 50,000.

The incident took place within only three days after police discovered 7 acres of bhang farm on top of Kimaye Hills near with Ong’er in North Kadem ,which is located less than 10 kilometers from Sori town

Close to 60 policemen spent the whole day uprooting the bhang. They were then enforced by over 50 inmates from Migori G.K. prison .The police succeeded in apprehending six men who were tending the bhang farm and took them into custody .The men were reported to have been working for an influential and wealthy politician in the region who is said to be working as a bhang trafficker .

All these is said to be happening despite the fact that in most parts of Nytatike the police road check-points and road-blocks are there the whole day, and traffic police officers manning these check-points re mains in some places even soon after dark

What give credence to the claim of police complicity in the massive bhang trafficking in the region is that most vehicles nabbed by police in roadblocks are always found far away from Nyanza, mostly in Molo,Naivasha ,Nakuru and Narok area .Perhaps this is after such vehicles had travelled long distance from Nyanza while under the alleged police escort ,which saw them passing through Migori,Kisii,Nyamira and Bomet.

Police road blocks are everywhere in Migori ,Kisii ,Nyamira ,Kericho and Bomet but the bhang traffickers have always been nabbed in places far away from the region.Many of these are sure to conceal the drugs source of origins and supplies

Gwasi Hills ,Ungoe and Gembe Hills in Gwasi and Mbila constituencies are other areas where bhang is grown in abundance.

Before the coming of Independence in 1963, the colonial authorities knew these places and used to dispatch contingents of regular police GSU and APS.during dry seasons with ….to hunt down and burnt down the bhang as well as the makeshift house erected on hill tops by the farmers and those tending the farms. It worked well, but after the attainment of political independence, the successive KANU regime went into deep slumber and relaxed paving the way for more bhang farms to spring up.

The 7 acres bhang farm which the police discovered last month …..was estimated at KSh. 50 million in street value. The bhang was burnt and destroyed at Macalder Divisional Police headquarters.

Residents have however confided to this writer that there existed other bhang farms along the valley of River Kuja in areas not far away from Gogo falls, which is generating electricity for the KPLC and close to the famous pre-historical Thim Lich Ohinga which is now in the management of the Kenya Museum services.

END

USA Africa Dialogue Series – Does fighting corruption really make business sense?

Leave a reply

From: John Mbaku

While it is true that fighting corruption makes business sense, one has to be careful to recognize the fact that some businesses do benefit from operating within a corrupt system. Where is there is no corruption or other forms of opportunism, the economy operates efficiently and businesses must then depend on managerial acumen, innovation, good customer service, and worker productivity to maximize profit. Within such an economy, only highly competitive businesses would be able to remain operational in the long run and wealth creation would be maximized. Poorly performing enterprises, of course, would be forced into insolvency. However, within an economy characterized by high levels of corruption and other forms of opportunism (e.g., rent seeking and public financial malfeasance), a few inefficient firms are able to remain operational, even in the long run, because they have developed the wherewithal to purchase protection from the government through bribes and other forms of corrupt practices. Society, of course, is the loser–usually because of reduced national output, severe inequalities in the distribution of income and wealth, failure to innovate, extremely poor and capricious allocation of public goods and services, capital flight, and to a certain extent, brain drain.

Hence, while highly competitive and innovative companies are likely to actively support efforts to eradicate corruption, poorly-performing enterprises would not support such activities, instead preferring to make sure that the economy is saddled with relatively weak and ineffective institutions so that they can continue to secure the state protection necessary for their survival. This attitude is similar to that taken by some companies against the break-up of monopolies and the opening up of national economies to foreign competition–highly competitive and innovative companies usually welcome the opportunity to compete globally while others, usually those which are poorly managed and depend on government protection to survive, are always against any form of competition.

—
JOHN MUKUM MBAKU, ESQ.
J.D. (Law), Ph.D. (Economics)
Graduate Certificate in Environmental and Natural Resources Law
Nonresident Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution
Attorney & Counselor at Law (Licensed in Utah)
Presidential Distinguished Professor of Economics & Willard L. Eccles Professor of Economics and John S. Hinckley Fellow
Department of Economics
Weber State University
3807 University Circle
Ogden, UT 84408-3807, USA
(801) 626-7442 Phone
(801) 626-7423 Fax

– – – – – – – – – –

On Mon, Jan 13, 2014 at 8:30 AM, Yona Maro wrote:

No doubt, business plays a crucial role in countering corruption. So as attempts have increased to motivate companies to engage in the fight against corruption more, so have references to the so-called “business case against corruption”.

It argues that corruption is not only morally wrong and damaging to societies, but also detrimental to the companies themselves. It thus concludes that countering corruption makes business sense; that companies that engage against corruption are better off economically than those that do not.

But is this true? Because if such a business case to counter corruption existed, why are companies still engaging in corrupt acts?

This is one of the main questions elaborated on at the Humboldt-Viadrina School of Governance in a project on anti-corruption incentives and sanctions for business, which looks at what it is that motivates companies to counter corruption. Are they doing so only if required to by law? Are they driven by a desire to do what is morally right? Or does countering corruption actually make good business sense? And what can different stakeholders do to strengthen these motivations?
Link:

http://blog.transparency.org/2013/12/17/does-fighting-corruption-really-make-business-sense/

—
Find Jobs in Africa Jobs in Africa
International Job Opportunities International Job Opportunities
Jobs in Kenya Jobs in Kenya

USA: Put an end to Citizens United once and for all!

Leave a reply

From: Senator Al Franken

Dear MoveOn member,

I’m U.S. Senator Al Franken, and I started a petition to the United States Congress and President Barack Obama, which says:

We, the undersigned, have had it. Corporations are not people. Elections should not be auctions. And we refuse to let our democracy be put up for sale.
We are standing together to call for a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United.

Sign Sen. Franken’s petition
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=295848&id=85269-21095459-qPfo3ix&t=1

Citizens United was a disaster. It opened the floodgates for corporations to write big checks to fund right-wing special-interest attacks, helping them pour $719 million into the 2012 elections.

The question is, what are we going to do about it? How are we going to stuff this “corporations are people, elections are auctions, democracy is for sale” mess into the Dumpster of Bad Ideas?

Here’s how: A constitutional amendment that puts power back in the hands of the people. The actual, human people.

Click here to sign my petition and join me in calling for a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United, and then pass it along to your friends.
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=295848&id=85269-21095459-qPfo3ix&t=1

Thanks!

–Senator Al Franken

This petition was started by Senator Al Franken on MoveOn Petitions Political Action Edition, which is licensed to and paid for by MoveOn.org Political Action. Senator Al Franken didn’t pay us to send this email—we never rent or sell the MoveOn.org list.

KENYA: SUGAR CANE FARMERS ARE GETTING RAW DEALINGS FROM MILLERS

Leave a reply

Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

Reports appearing in heal media stating that there is discontent among sugar cane farmers over high cost of cane production in Kenya despite the country’s commitment to lift COMESA safeguard by March next year.

Cane farmers are taling myriads of production which are slowly driving farmers out of cane growing moving to other cash crops with letter return.

High cost of cane farm inputs, exploitation by millers , expensive credit and poor execution of regulations governing business in the sugar industry have seen farmers paint give in the production of sugar sub sector of the economy this year.

Nearly all the millers in the sugar cane growing areas have drastically reduced the price of van materials (cane) which had hit Konsoro two years age. The millers are charging huge transport fees.

On top of all the production, train cane farmers, corruption is also rampant in relation to cane harvesting programes rolled out by millers. Delayed payment and indication of deductions

Two new medium size white sugar processing factories were in southern Nyanza region Owal Wachara in Ndhiwa district, the other one in Trans-Mara, Narok county

At the commence business, the two mils when paying the farmers very competitive price of Ksh. 5,000 per metric from. In fact the seller industries in Ndhiwa was paying Ksh. 5,000 and not charging the farmer for transport credit. It has since reduced this to 3,800 per tonne and extra enhanced on the cost of transportation.

The Maasai farmers violently, protected against the unilateral increase in transport charge. They blocked the roads leading to the factory, forcing the operation to an halt at the Trans Mara suffer factory, said the same loader.

Similar problem has risen in industry mills, which is located at Wachara near Oria Narket on the border of Ndhiwa and Levivi Districts . Two mills, one located in places less than 5km from the area to base sony sugar company mills.

However, sony sugar has maintained its prices as rain comes at 480/- @ tonne plus transport lorry fees.

These are allegations and complaints that the Manager charged with the responsibility of harvesting in the Sukari Industries. as one solution of managing, demanded bribes from the poor farmers before carrying out harvesting cane from the farmers field.

This stop and move behind the scenes should he expose and investigated. It is even very sad at this time stage for it to occur.

The ailing Muhoroni Sugar Company has turned out to be a field for trading receivers at the expense of turning the factory around and selling it to strategic indicator with cane farmers getting 51 per cent.

Records and background of those being traded in may be shocking. How were they arrived at during this era of openness and transparency? Could one of the RECEIVERS have been involved in the run down of Mumias Out Powers Company where money COULD have been SWINDLED in purchase of very exorbitant and inflated priced cane transport trailers? Could one of Board which ensured that a situation that was meant to last only 4 month lasted forever on that the low rolled continue to the Milked?

If Milking has been enough can’t he call for a break so that the cow can be attended to by some health expert to ensure its health does not lead to total collapse and death instead of going for any “miller” who has no basic understanding of the cow’s health requirement?

Is it that those who tested other during the last elections must now eat?

Farmers are helpless.

END

EFCC AND MOCKERY OF ANTI-GRAFT WAR IN NIGERIA

Leave a reply

From: Atlantic Reportersnews

Johnson Johnson

As time goes on, it is becoming clearer that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has lost direction and focus, thereby making it difficult for it to investigate cases dispassionately without witch-hunting and grandstanding.

Ethics and professionalism in the handling of investigations or prosecutions are now history. This worrisome development appears not to surprise many. If an organization is established in error by forcing policemen to lead anti-corruption efforts without first of all cleaning up their own establishment–how can they give what they don’t have? It is no news that the EFCC is another arm of the Nigerian Police. It is also no news that over eighty five percent of the staff of EFCC are Policemen. One now asks, do Nigerians have confidence in the Police? If no, how then can corruption personified lead the war against corruption?
[ . . . ]
http://www.atlanticreporters.net/index.php/anti-corruption/item/269-efcc-and-mockery-of-anti-graft-war-in-nigeria

THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT SHOULD GIVE THE PROSECUTOR A CHANCE TO USE ANOTHER PART B

Leave a reply

From: Nyambok, Thomas
To: “jaluo@jaluo.com”

The witnesses have been compromised by an exchange with money, threats, and by killing them in order to shield the truth.

Ms. Bensouda will now use the outcome from the recommends from Commission chapter contains the Commission’s recommendations that relate to the State of Security Agencies and to issues of impunity. The discussion, findings, and conclusion that the recommendations are based upon are fully laid out in the preceeding chapters.

[ . . . ]

Read or d/l more; (.docx file, 25KB)

Why EFCC is after Oronsaye …The NFIA Connection

1 Reply

From: Cheekless 2011

Azeez Razaq

Facts have emerged on why the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC has declared war on Nigeria’s former head of Service, Mr. Stephen Oronsoye.

An impeccable source at the Commission who spoke to our correspondent on the grounds of anonymity expressed displeasure over what he described as witch-hunt and blackmail of an innocent senior citizen by the leadership of the EFCC.

According to him, “This is a set-up to tarnish Mr. Oronsoye’s name for the following reasons: He personally wrote a letter reporting our Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT) findings to EFCC, which resulted in the prosecution of one Mrs. Chidi and Dr. Shuaibu.

“Why is it that after EFCC closed investigations in the Pension case in 2010, arraigned the subjects in 2011, obtained a “negotiated judgment” on one of the pension suspects in 2013, the Chairman in an obvious show of incompetence is now seeking to reopen the investigation by claiming that one of the suspects “wrote an additional statement” to include Mr. Oronsaye?

“For the benefit of those who have not been following the pension case –Mrs. Phina Chidi is the lady who has been covering her face in all the pension trial cases. This is a woman whom, investigation reports showed glaring evidence of her involvement in moving money from pension accounts using “her under-aged children”. How can a woman who ought to have been convicted all of a sudden become a star witness for the EFCC? Did the woman suffer from hallucination? Was she under duress after three years to forge a story against Mr. Oronsaye? Why now? Nigerians are not asking questions.”

“We are all aware that Mr. Oronsaye started the investigation of Pension fraud when he became head of Service. It is also a fact that can be checked out that he set up the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT) before he retired in 2010. He also personally submitted the final report of that task team to EFCC and ICPC and invited them to investigate and prosecute those indicted before he retired. How come the complainant is now being witch hunted? Instead of prosecuting all those found guilty, EFCC is now turning to claim that it has evidence to prosecute Mr. Oronsaye –forged evidence generated by his ‘selected investigators’ from the North, including Mr. Mustapha Abdurrahman and Mr. Mustapha Gadanya, a younger brother to Mr. Tahir, who, not only was a staff of Mrs. Chidi, but who has been dismissed from civil service for conspiring with Mrs. Chidi to steal Pension fund? Why is EFCC making a charade of such an important case?”

“Mr. Oronsoye is the chairman of the Presidential Committee on the Financial Action Task Force. He recommended the merger of the EFCC with ICPC and has been in support of the autonomy of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, a unit presently under the EFCC which has been battling the Commission for autonomy. The bill for NFIU autonomy has passed through a second reading in both the Senate and House of Representatives and what do you think that EFCC will do when it is obvious that the largest international donor funding comes to EFCC because of NFIU. Nothing in the whole story is either true or close to the truth.”

Continuing, the source lamented over what he described as criminal intimidation of innocent Nigerians, while the actual criminals in the system are allowed to walk the streets freely.

Reacting to a recent publication alleging that Mr. Oronsaye was involved in the diversion of N6.2b pension fund, a legal Practitioner, Barrister Mike Obasi described the report as an insult on the intelligence of Nigerians.

According to him, the report which stated that Mr. Oronsoye was grilled following a statement made by a Deputy Director, Pension Account in the office of the head of service, Mrs. Phina Chidi is a clear manifestation of set-up.

“Mrs. Chidi was said to have informed EFCC interrogators that she was given a mandate to shop for contractors who could make returns to the former Head of Service in the award of fictitious contracts which cost the country N5bn. She did not show any evidence of the mandate. In the Civil Service, instructions are communicated through formal memo.”

“She alleged further that the returns were made to Oronsaye through Shuaibu. Where is the evidence that there was such a transaction”?

“The said contracts were awarded between January 2009 and November 2010 when Oronsaye was Head of Service. Why did it take the EFCC three to four years before they realized it”?

“She alleged that the proceeds from the phoney contracts were paid into the accounts of two new generation banks before they were withdrawn by Shuaibu and taken to Oronsaye. You mean, he withdrew over N6b cash and delivered to Mr. Oronsoye? How is that possible? Do they think that Nigerians are fools?”

Continuing, Obasi queried why it took an additional statement after three years for Mrs. Chidi to try to robe in Mr. Oronsoye, describing it as born out of malice waxed in destructive swaggeo.

“If you read the report, Mrs. Chidi was quoted as saying, “In addition to my statement on January 11, 2011, I wish to state as follows: that I was asked by Dr. Shuaibu to shop for company names to execute our contracts, proceeds of which should be given to Mr. Stephen Oronsaye the then Head of Service.”

“After three years of her statement to the EFCC, she now remembered that Mr. Oronsoye should be included? This is a clear case of afterthought. Even a little child will clearly see that it is a set up. I am a lawyer and I can authoritatively tell you that the woman is being used to set the man up.”

Also reacting to the development, a human rights activist, Kazeem Abubakar condemned what it described as the loss of focus by the EFCC under the present leadership.

He revealed that Civil Society Organisations in the country are presently reviewing the activities of anti- corruption agencies in Nigeria, with the view to sanitizing them.

He further accused the EFCC under the present leadership of high level corruption and intimidation of innocent Nigerians, even as he accused it of encouraging corrupt practices in Nigeria.

Adding his voice, a Professor of Mass Communication and Public Relations consultant, Steve Akintoye lamented over what he described as a decline in the ethics of the Journalism profession.

He wondered why media practitioners go to Press without crosschecking their facts and asking relevant questions, siting the case in question, which report he said lacked substance, for not conducting proper investigations, asking the necessary questions and getting the other side of the story.

All efforts to reach the EFCC head of Media, Wilson Uwajuren for comments proved abortive.