In 2002, John Githongo, the then Permanent Secretary for Governance and Ethics, exposed powerful figure in the Kibaki regime that were intent on fleecing the public though ghost companies.
What later came to be known as ‘Anglo-leasing scandal where the country lost more than Kshs. 50 billion ($600 million); paid for work not done, was exposed by Githongo.
The men at the center of the looting was then Minister for Internal Security, the stinking Chris Murungaru.
The current Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi was also taped asking the Anti-Corruption czar to ‘go slow’ on investigations.
On 22 January 2006, Githongo named then Vice president Moody Awori as one of four top politicians (with KIRAITU MURUNGI, former JUSTICE MINISTER and later energy minister; finance minister DAVID MWIRARIA and former Internal security later transport minister CHRIS MURUNGARU) as being involved in the Anglo Leasing scams.
Mr. Githongo was forced to flee Kenya for sometime due to threats to his life in 2005. He came back to Kenya in 2008.
Apparently, Chris Murungaru took advantage of the corrupt Jubilee Regime led by UhuRuto to get back at Mr. Githongo.
Murungaru sued Mr. Githongo through the corrupt juri-junta of Kenya and he seems to have won.
This is a case of corruption fighting back.
With President Uhuru Kenyatta at the helm, the indecisive mama’s boy who as Finance minister vowed not to pay a single shilling to ghostly Anglo-leasing firms, yet went on to pay as president is really sad.
Below is John Githongo’s statement after the High Court ordered him to pay Chris Murungaru Kshs. 27 million for defamation.
John Githongo is a recipient of Allard Price for International Integrity. He was co-awarded in 2015 with co-recipient Rafael Marques de Morais.
John Githongo Personal Statement
Published on Thursday, 2 May 19
Statement on HCCC 466 of 2006 Chris Murungaru vs. John Githongo
I am disappointed though unsurprised by the judgment that has emerged from the High Court with regard to the Anglo Leasing defamation matter brought against me by former Internal Security and Provincial Affairs Minister of State in the Office of the President, C. Murungaru.
The matter has drudged through the courts for 13 years and been heard by different judges.
It is my plan to appeal this judgment as vigorously as possible. Unfortunately the Court also disallowed witness evidence in my regard and we have filed my intention to appeal on this basis as well.
Sadly, the Anglo Leasing model of misappropriation of resources from the Kenyan people has continued unabated since 2001.
I refuse to lose perspective as a result of this latest development.
Over the past six years in particular the plunder of public resources has accelerated to levels unprecedented in Kenyan history since independence. Increasingly the economic, political, social and very personal cost of this plunder by officials in positions of authority has been borne by the Kenyan people directly.
I remain committed to continuing the fight against corruption in Kenya and I’m undeterred by distractions engineered by the very thieves stealing from Kenyans.
John Githongo
