Kipchumba Murkomen calls DPP’s Dam scandal charges a charade
Barely hours after DPP Noordin Haji announced the prosecution of Arror and Kimwarer dams scandal suspects, Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen has called them a charade.
Senator Murkomen has been quoted telling the media: “I have looked at the charge sheets and I can tell you the entire thing is a charade.”Murkomen, who visited the DCI headquarters, said that he was there in as a lawyer representing the suspects.Political scientist Mutahi Ngunyi who tweeted: “According to DCI, 4 billion was withdrawn in cash from a Westlands bank. It was taken to the home of some influential big person. After “Henry Rotich” will they arrest this big person? I have a bad Feeling.”
Mutahi Ngunyi✔@MutahiNgunyi
According to DCI, 4 billion was withdrawn in CASH from a WESTLANDS bank. It was TAKEN to the home of some INFLUENTIAL BIG Person. After “Henry Rotich” will they ARREST this BIG PERSON? I have a BAD Feeling.
Former Nasa Political Strategist economist David Ndii tweeted: “My friend Kamau Thugge kept confronting me about the Eurobond, insisting that it was legit and I was playing politics. I told him the story of Dr. Koinange and Goldenberg, warned him that he would be the fall guy and the crooks would go free. Now see.”
In his Monday morning press conference where he named suspects in the dams’ scandal, DPP Haji ended his speech with a strong warning against inciting public disaffection in the wake of the arrests and prosecutions.Haji said that he was ‘taking his work seriously’ and carrying out duties as enshrined in the Constitution.The DPP earlier directed the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to arrest National Treasury CS Henry Rotich, his PS Kamau Thugge and 25 other state officials over the multi-billion dams scandal.Hours later they were arrested and driven for questing at the DCI Headquarters.
The suspects are to be charged with abuse of office, conspiracy to defraud contrary to the law, engaging in a project without proper planning, flouting public finance management procedures and disregarding the procurement rules in awarding Italian CMC di Ravenna the contract.He noted that the National Treasury inflated the amount of the project from Sh46 billion by an additional Sh17 billion adding more tax burden on the taxpayer.
Mr Haji said that given the international nature of the economic crime in question, his office had roped in other foreign governments and plans are underway to effect assets recovery in the interest of the public.He said Italian and British governments are ready to join in to help in the fight against economic crime.Haji said that the charges have been preferred against the suspects based on the evidence received by the DPP’s office.
And, that there was no malice or political persuasion behind the charges.When asked whether the suspects are expected to step aside, the DPP said: “They will have to step aside…these are not governors. I will write to the Head of Public Service. I will do it right away. That is the law. If you’re charged and you take a plea, you have to step aside.”
