Oliver Mathenge
9 July 2008
Nairobi — Finance minister Amos Kimunya is the latest casualty in a list of ministers who have been forced to leave office over corruption-related allegations.
The minister has been accused that he sold off the Grand Regency Hotel to a group of Libyans without following the laid down procedure.
He now joins a number of ministers serving under President Kibaki who have been forced to quit under similar circumstances. These include Mr David Mwiraria, Mr Kiraitu Murungi and Prof George Saitoti who had to leave office temporarily to pave way for investigations.
All three ministers were later cleared of the alleged graft claims and reappointed to the Cabinet.
Cabinet reshuffle
However, a former Transport minister, Dr Chris Murungaru, was left out in a Cabinet reshuffle after he was implicated in corruption. He also failed to recapture his Kieni seat in last year's General Election.
Mr Mwiraria and Mr Kiraitu then in the Finance and Justice dockets, respectively, were forced to resign after being implicated in the Anglo Leasing scandal.
Prof Saitoti, then in the Education ministry, stepped aside for allegedly being connected to the multi-billion Goldenberg scandal.
And similar to Mr Kimunya's case, all these ministers had maintained that they were clean and that they would not leave office.
The Anglo Leasing scandal first came to light in 2004.
Mr Murungi's name featured in evidence on the Anglo Leasing scandal released by former Ethics Permanent Secretary John Githongo, who is currently in self-exile in the UK.
Despite his name featuring in the "Githongo dossier", former Vice President Moody Awori declined to heed calls for his resignation, maintaining that he had done nothing wrong.
Mr Mwiraria, who announced his resignation on February 1, 2006, to pave way for investigations into his involvement into the scam was later absolved of all charges.
"As I step aside, my conscience is clear that I have served the Kenyan people with dedication and honesty, and have not been party to any irregularity, criminal or unethical conduct," Mr Mwiraria said when he announced his resignation.
It was after Mr Mwiraria's resignation that Mr Kimunya, then in charge of Lands, was named Finance minister.
On his part, Prof Saitoti was adversely mentioned in the Goldenberg report, which recommended that the Attorney-General should consider prosecuting him. He was the VP and Minister for Finance during the period the scam is said to have occurred.
Mr Murungi and Mr Saitoti's resignations were confirmed by President Kibaki on February 9, 2006.
Resumed duties
The President said that Mr Saitoti was stepping aside to pave way for investigations into the issues raised in the report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the Goldenberg Affair.
He added that Mr Murungi was stepping aside in order to allow full investigations into allegations made against him in regard to the Anglo Leasing affair. The two resumed their duties in their respective portfolios after nine months on November 15 after being cleared of the alleged scams.
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