Government authorises payment of Anglo Leasing debt

President Uhuru Kenyatta. He has authorised the Treasury to settle the Anglo Leasing debt. (Photo:File/Standard)

By Standard Digital Reporter

Nairobi, Kenya: Government Thursday authorised Treasury Cabinet Secretary to pay the Sh1.4b controversial Anglo Leasing debt with immediate effect.

President Uhuru Kenyatta said the decision was crucial in alleviating the risks to the Kenyan economy, adding that Anglo Leasing has been a thorn in the side of Government for a long time.

“The Government has exhausted all judicial options to forestall payment of the judgement debts and the way forward is for the Government to settle to minimize further loss as the outstanding awards continue to accrue interest,” read a statement by State House Spokesperson Manoah Esipisu.

The statement however stated that by making the ‘painful decision’ to settle the debt, the President is not legitimizing what he and many Kenyans believe to have been a series of fraudulent transactions.

“As Chair of the Public Accounts Committee when he was opposition leader, the President investigated the matter, and he agrees with the views of a majority of the Kenyan people on this. That’s why it has taken long to make a decision on the current situation,” said Esipisu.

The President ordered further investigations in the transactions, giving the Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission to take the process forward.

Deputy President had earlier send a clear message that Kenya will not pay the debt as well as many other legislators who insisted that the ‘ghosts recipients’ had to be unearthed before any payment could be effected.