Macharia Gaitho
19 August 2008
Nairobi — As former Permanent Secretary John Githongo arrived in the country on Tuesday night, there were probably equal amounts excitement and trepidation about his home-coming.
To some, Mr Githongo is a hero who defied pressure and his own ethnic affiliations to expose grand corruption at the heart of the Narc administration.
But there are also those who view him as a traitor, both to his nation and to his own ethnic group, not just for uncovering the Anglo Leasing scandal, but also for what seemed to be extremely close links with the then British high commissioner to Kenya, Mr Edward Clay, who never minced words in his criticism of corrupt public officials.
Mr Githongo went into self-exile three years ago after announcing while on an official trip to London, that he would not be returning home. At the time, he had accompanied other high-ranking Government officials to the UK.
Mr Githongo's most dramatic action was the BBC interview early in 2006 during which he aired tapes he had recorded during his discussions with the then Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister Kiraitu Murungi.
In the tape, Mr Murungi was heard advising Mr Githongo, who was the then advisor on corruption in President Kibaki's office to "go slow" on the Anglo Leasing investigations.
New twist
The Githongo tape added a new twist to the Anglo Leasing saga and raised questions over whether there were more details that Mr Githongo was yet to reveal.
The tape led to the resignation of Mr Murungi and the then Finance minister David Mwiraria.
However, both were returned to the Cabinet in the run-up to the 2007 General Election after being cleared of involvement in the Anglo Leasing scandal.
Mr Mwiraria went on to lose his parliamentary seat last December after it was reported that he was in a list of top officials who would be denied UK visas over irregularities.
Mr Murungi was re-elected as the Imenti South MP and is now minister for Energy.
Another casualty of Mr Githongo's crusade was Dr Chris Murungaru, the then powerful minister of State for International Security.
He, too resigned after he was adversely mention over the Anglo Leasing scandal in which the Government paid billions of shillings for a naval ship and for a forensic laboratory that was to have been built at the CID headquarters. Questions were raised over the suitability and pricing of the ship.
It also emerged that a shadowy company, Anglo Leasing and Finance, had been paid millions of shillings for work that had not been done. Some of the contracts dated back to the Moi administration.
With Mr Githongo's return, those adversely mentioned in the scandal could be jittery lest he releases more damaging revelations.
Mr Githongo has said that he would be returning after he was invited by Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka. His links with the PM could set some alarm bells ringing.
However, Mr Githongo remains coy about his intentions. Officially, he will be attending a Kenya Human Rights Commission conference on Wednesday, but it remains unclear whether his stay will be permanent.
All he has said is that he will be around "for a while". He has confirmed that he will not be relinquishing his position as a senior official with the British-based charity World Vision.
A lot of water has passed under the bridge since Mr Githongo went into self-exile, but President Kibaki remains in office.
However, the President has had to share power with Mr Odinga under the peace deal that ended two months of post-election violence that threatened to tear the country apart.
Just a few weeks ago, Mr Githongo skipped a planned visit to Kenya, going straight to Tanzania. He said that he skipped the Kenyan leg of the trip because he still feared for his life.
Whether something has happened to ease such fears is not clear, although he has said that things have changed significantly in the last few months.
He declined to comment on rumours that he will be taking up a job in the Office of the Prime Minister.
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A Chiefjustice who does not want to be answerable to the nation for his deeds and misdeed is really a ChiefInjustice rather that a chiefjustice, Gicheru should consider resigning after showing a total lack of understanding of the meaning of his role in society. All constitutional offices are responsibly morally to account for their service to the sate and should not hide behind the gowns of office to conceal rot and crime and greed.
A Chiefjustice who does not want to be answerable to the nation for his deeds and misdeed is really a ChiefInjustice rather that a chiefjustice, Gicheru should consider resigning after showing a total lack of understanding of the meaning of his role in society. All constitutional offices are responsibly morally to account for their service to the sate and should not hide behind the gowns of office to conceal rot and crime and greed.
A Chiefjustice who does not want to be answerable to the nation for his deeds and misdeed is really a ChiefInjustice rather that a chiefjustice, Gicheru should consider resigning after showing a total lack of understanding of the meaning of his role in society. All constitutional offices are responsibly morally to account for their service to the sate and should not hide behind the gowns of office to conceal rot and crime and greed.