NAIROBI: Former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chief Executive James Oswago has denied involvement in the so-called Chickengate scandal. Mr Oswago, who was yesterday grilled for hours by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, said he did not receive any money from Smith & Ouzman printing firm to influence award of tenders. Oswago said he would sue the alleged mastermind of the scandal Mr Trevy Oyombra for implicating him in the saga.
Addressing journalists at Integrity Centre, Oswago said the Kenyan case was different from that of the United Kingdom. “You have to understand what went on in the UK case. There were six charges there. Kenya was faced with three charges, while Mauritania, Somalia and Ghana were faced with one charge each,” he said.
He said in Kenya, IEBC had been accused of agreeing to make payments, while in Mauritania, Somalia and Ghana they had “actually made the payments”.
“Agreeing to make payments and actually making payments are two different things. But the law there (UK) provides if you have agreed to make payment you are guilty whether you actually made it or not,” he explained.
Oswago said some people were calling for Kenya to expeditiously prosecute individuals implicated in the alleged graft even though they lacked proper information on the case.
The grilling came just two days after the Commission also questioned Mr Oyombra and IEBC commissioner Yusuf Nzibo. The Commission is on record supporting the ongoing probe, saying individuals found culpable must be prosecuted.
