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Kenya: Wako - I Was Not Told of Deal
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The East African Standard (Nairobi)
22 April 2008
Posted to the web 22 April 2008
Lucianne Limo And Abiya Ochola
Nairobi
The Attorney-General has distanced his office from any involvement in the handing over of Grand Regency Hotel to the Central Bank of Kenya.
Mr Amos Wako said his office was not consulted for legal advice during the transaction, a confession that deepens the mystery that surrounds the handover.
"The AG has not been involved whatsoever in the handing over and the alleged sale of the Grand Regency to CBK. I saw the handover ceremony on television like everybody else," Wako said.
The AG admitted that he had been kept in the dark.
"Neither the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission nor CBK have approached me over the matter as of now," he said.
Wako, however, said he was waiting for communication from KACC and CBK, promising to make public any information he receives from the two bodies.
Wako was speaking in Karen after opening a workshop organised by the Advocates' Complaints Commission.
Two weeks ago, the Government acquired the hotel after 14 years of protracted battles with businessman, Mr Kamlesh Pattni.
The five-star hotel was handed over to CBK Governor, Mr Njuguna Ndung'u, at a ceremony attended by KACC Director, Mr Aaron Ringera.
Funds used to build the facility are believed to have been proceeds from Goldenberg-related transactions.
In a rejoinder, Ringera has said CBK has the discretion to sell the Grand Regency Hotel. The KACC director, however, said the Commission expects CBK to strictly comply with the law in the event of such a sale.
"The Commission is aware that the CBK's mandate does not extend to the running of any commercial business. It is therefore possible that CBK may exercise its discretion to dispose of the property by way of sale," said Ringera.
The CBK, however, said it had not sold the five star-hotel, contrary to reports the bank had disposed of the prestigious facility.
In a press statement, Ringera maintained that the recovery process of the hotel was above board.
He said the terms of settlement were registered in court terming the recovery a landmark in the Commission's asset recovery efforts.
But the Law Society of Kenya and The International Commission of Jurists told Wako to let the courts decide whether Pattni was guilty or not.
Mr Evans Monari said Kenyans wanted to know the truth on the Grand Regency Hotel since public money was used to build it.
ICJ chairman, Mr Wilfred Nderitu, said the days of the Executive arm-twisting the Judiciary were long gone.
At the meeting, the AG decried the declining professional conduct of lawyers. Wako urged lawyers to embrace professionalism in order to restore their clients' confidence and trust.
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"We must immediately put to a halt the declining standards of professional conduct and etiquette and restore the 'honourable image' of lawyers," Wako stated.
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