EACC requests files on ‘chicken’ scandal

Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission Chair Mumo Matemu

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) is awaiting documents from UK’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO) after it sought files related to the “chicken scandal”.

And the EACC top chiefs held a meeting last evening as pressure piled on them to act over the scam following a successful conviction in British courts of Britons who bribed Kenyan officials to get contracts.

Monday, the commission vice-chairman Irene Keino told The Standard that they had requested the files from SFO and also written to the British government for a mutual legal assistance in investigating the scandal.

“We are waiting for the files from the SFO and we have commenced seeking legal mutual assistance from the UK government before making a decision,” Ms Keino said, adding that they will not summon any official mentioned in the court files until they receive the documents to ascertain the evidence contained in it.

When asked how long Kenyans will wait for a decision to be made, Keino added; “we are meeting later today (Monday) to discuss on the way forward and the timelines.’

Smith and Ouzman Ltd directors Christopher Smith, 72, and his son Nicholas Smith, 43, were jailed for bribing officials of the Interim Independent Electoral Commission (IIEC) and the Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec) bosses to get printing contracts.

Nicholas was jailed for three years by the Southwark Crown Court while his father Christopher was sentenced to an 18-month suspended term for his role in the scandal in which top IIEC and Knec officials pocketed Sh50 million as bribes to award tenders to their firm.

The development has led to calls for action by the Government with CORD leader Raila Odinga pressing for the prosecution of officials implicated.

“We have a clear chance to send strong signals about our distaste for impunity and corruption. By virtue of the positions they held and continue to hold, IEBC chairman Issack Hassan, Energy Cabinet Secretary Davies Chirchir and former chief executive James Oswago, must immediately be taken in for prosecution. The prosecution must, however, be extended to all those mentioned, including former IIEC commissioners Ken Nyaundi, Kenneth Karani and Hamida Ali Kibwana, Mr Paul Wasanga (Knec) and Smith & Ouzman’s local agent, Trevy James Oyombra,” Raila said in a statement.

Monday, former commissioner and lawyer Nyaundi said he had written to the EACC after reading in the Kenyan press that the commission was conducting investigations.

“I confirm that I will be available, at your instance, to answer your questions on the matter,” he said.