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Nigeria: EFCC Begins Probe of Obasanjo

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday said that it had commenced investigation into the eight-year administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Author: isanebeki

This latest developments in Nigeria are a good sign of a positive future.Nigeria, like Kenya has had many problems associated with misconduct of the leaders. Most Africans live in abject poverty although the African continent is potentially the world supper power in terms of wealth. Poverty in Africa can be attributed to various factors, the major one being corruption. Agood example of real effects of corruption is Kenya. Before the high rampant corruption in Kenya was put into test, certain measures and precautions were enforced and powers of certain offices which guarded Kenya against looting public funds were removed. The following measures were taken: 1] In 1980, the Union of the Kenya Civil Servants which was found in 1959, was invalidated through a Presidential decree against the Kenya constitution. 2] In 1982, a law was enacted which made Kenya a one Party State [ section 2A] 3] In 1986, a law was enacted which removed the security of tenure of the office of the Public Service Commission, the Office of the Attorney General, the Judges and the Office of the Controller and the Auditor General. The Union of the Kenya Civil Servants provided job security to the Kenya Civil Servants who have been and are to this day, the managers and custodian of public funds. After the invalidation of the Union of the Kenya Civil Servants, the job security of the Kenya Civil was left at the mercy of the Kenya Politicians. The Public Service Commission had been the only employer of Kenyans into the Public Service since 1963 when Kenya gained independence from Britain, but after its security of tenure was removed in 1986, employment of Kenyans into the Public Service was done on recommendations of the individual Kenya politicians. Before the enactment of Section 2A which made Kenya a one Party State in 1982, Kenya had room for the formation of other Political Parties. After the law was enacted, the members of the only Party “KANU”, were expelled from the Party by those high in authority any time they held conflicting views. The removal of the Security of tenure of the offices of the Kenya Attorney General and the Judges in 1986, ensured that no case could ever go through in the Kenya Courts of law without the approval of those in Authority. But the exercise was not over until the Security of tenure of the Office of the Controller and Auditor General was removed. After the security of tenure of this office was removed, the Kenya Public Funds were read for looting. The Auditor had to be directed what to do by the political leaders and could do nothing about the looting which followed or act on the looted funds. These preparation was done prior and during the period when rampant corruption which left many Kenyans dead and many others in abject poverty, took place. It is sad that no one has come out openly to condemn that organized corruption except for a few Kenyans like the late Bishop Kipsang Arap Muge, whose mysterious death left suspicion, the late Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Robert Ouko who was found Murdered a few days after he visited Statehouse in Nairobi with two files which contained information on corruption at the Molasses plant in Kisumu, Former Archbishop Dr. David Gitari, Rev Dr. Timothy Njoya, the late Bishop Dr. Henry Okulu and the former Permanent Secretary for Governance and Ethics, Mr. John Githongo now in exile in London. Thanks to Mr. Githongo who replied to my letter which I wrote to President Kibaki in the year 2003, in which I provided the President with advice on how to deal with the past corruption. Little was done after Mr. Githongos’ escape. In 2003, four Commissions of inquiry were instituted to investigate past corruption and land grabbing in Kenya. Also instituted was a commission of inquiry to investigate the death of the late Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr. Robert John Ouko. In 2005, all the Commissions completed their findings and handed their reports to the President. Up to this day nothing has bee said about the reports, an indication that the reports have been buried deep in the ground, never to be seen by any Kenyan. The commissions were funded with Public funds and were therefore public property. Up to this day the reports remain to be held secrete. There are no acceptable reasons why the reports should continue to be kept secrete. The Kenya Government should release the findings in the reports of the four Commissions of Inquiries unconditionally and immediately. I support the EFCC and Kenya should emulate Nigeria if positive differences will be realised by examples. Newton Kinity



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