KACC offers amnesty on illegal wealth

By Ally Jamah 

People who have plundered public resources have 60 days to surrender their wealth to the State or risk prosecution.

Kenya Anti Corruption Commission (KACC) invited those who have committed economic crimes to take advantage of the amnesty.

KACC issued the “special offer” on Tuesday warning that after the lapse, stern action will follow.

KACC Director Patrick Lumumba and KACC Advisory Board chairman Okong’o Omogeni said the amnesty, to be officially published today, will offer a chance for individuals with “dirty wealth” to escape prosecution in exchange for a full return of everything they stole from public coffers.

An amnesty committee headed by KACC Deputy Director John Mutonyi will consider the amnesty applications and the names of the applicants will be published for Kenyans to make submissions and objections.

 “We are issuing the amnesty offer to people who are known to us and also those not known to us,” said Lumumba

As the amnesty was announced, it emerged that former Kenya Power and Lighting Company manager Samuel Gichuru was willing to surrender part of his wealth.

Gichuru, who is facing extradition to Britain to face graft-related charges, had approached KACC early this year seeking an amnesty.

But the efforts were unsuccessful since by then, the amnesty offer had not been officially considered by KACC, which made the amnesty decision in a board meeting last week.

“But ongoing cases regarding Gichuru will not be affected by the amnesty and will proceed as planned. In fact, we support his extradition to the UK,” added Lumumba.

Bill of health

Doubt exists on whether the amnesty offer will attract a substantial proportion of all the illegally acquired wealth within and outside the country’s borders.

Under the amnesty rules, the candidates must make full disclosure of past corrupt acts and all the returned wealth must be accompanied by 12 per cent charge on every year since it was acquired.

In case of immovable property, 12 per cent interest on the market value of the property must also be paid to be able to get a clean bill of health. They must also make reparations to any person affected by the corrupt conduct as well as undertake not to commit any other corrupt act.

“The understanding will cover only those acts which are disclosed and shall stand revoked if it found that the applicant concealed any material facts on past corruption or economic crime,” said Lumumba.

On Tuesday, KACC also nominated two of its representatives to the selection panel for the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). They are Irene Cheptoo Keino and Charles Kariuki Wambugu.

Amnesty deal

Keino is the Vice Chairperson of the KACC Advisory Board, while Wambugu is a member of the same board. Both names were forwarded to Parliament for vetting and eventual appointment by President Mwai Kibaki.

“We have full confidence in the integrity of the two individuals and we believe they will offer great service in putting in place the next electoral body,” said KACC Chairperson.

In other briefings, Lumumba revealed that 36 corruption cases are ready, including those against an assistant minister and several heads of State corporations, adding that the cases have been approved by the AG to be forwarded to court.

PLO said politicians who apply for the amnesty might be made to renounce their future political ambitions as part of the amnesty deal. The move may kick up controversy in the political class