Kenya refuses to send corruption suspects to Jersey

[Wacha1]

Wezi manyang'au waliokubuhu​

The Kenyan government is refusing to extradite two of its citizens accused of stealing millions of pounds on the island of Jersey. Samuel Gichuru, former head of Kenya's power company, and former Energy Minister Chris Okemo are accused of taking kickbacks from multinationals. The Jersey authorities have issued arrest warrants.

The Kenyan newspaper, the Star, broke the news and has called on the government to hand over the two men. Bailiff Sir Philip Bailhache, the top legal official on the island of Jersey, has accused Mr Gichuru and Mr Okemo, now an MP in Kenya, of 53 economic crimes. One concerns a deal with a Finnish firm to construct a power station 10 years ago near Mombasa, Kenya's second largest city.

At the time Mr Gichuru was the head of the Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC).
He is accused of working with Mr Okemo to bank more than £3m ($5m) from the deal.
The two are accused of taking millions more in kickbacks from British, Norwegian and German engineering firms, as well as a US communications giant. But the Kenyan government has told the BBC it will not hand the men over for now. The director of the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission, PLO Lumumba, says other politicians are also implicated in the deals.

Corruption should be declared a national disaster in Kenya, Mr Lumumba added. This is not the first time Mr Gichuru has been in the anti-corruption spotlight. In 2003, a leaked report of an investigation by the Kenyan government said he had plundered the state-owned electricity corporation for several years - an allegation his lawyer denied. That report, like several other anti-corruption investigations, was shelved.

Listening ... ..

 

[Nyaralego]

Wezi manyang'au waliokubuhu​

Listening ... ..

CORRUPTION and GREED at the highest level. These are just the medium level fish...the big fish in upper echelons of Government will shield them as is the ususal story in Kenya.

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

Kenya to give up Okemo, Gichuru
​

Nambale MP Chris Okemo (left) and former Kenya Power and Lighting boss Samuel Gichuru are wanted in Jersey where they authorities accuse them of money laundering and corruption. Photos/FILE
​

By BERNARD NAMUNANE AND SAMWEL KUMBA

Posted Monday, May 23 2011 at 22:30

Nambale MP Chris Okemo and former Kenya Power and Lighting boss Samuel Gichuru are to be extradited to the UK to face money-laundering charges.

This was after a British minister assured the government that his country would hunt down Yagnesh Devani - the man behind the Sh7.6 billion Triton oil scandal -and extradite him to face charges in Kenya.

Attorney General Amos Wako on Monday evening submitted arrest warrants against Mr Okemo and Mr Gichuru to Chief Public Prosecutor Keriako Tobiko to seek a court order for the extradition.

Mr Tobiko will have to prove that the crimes the two are alleged to have committed in Jersey are also crimes in Kenya.

"Tobiko will have to confirm if a prima facie case exists against the two Kenyans for the request to proceed so that formal extradition proceedings can be commenced in Court," said the AG.

Mr Wako spoke hours after receiving the arrest warrant from Police Commissioner Matthew Iteere.

Interpol had submitted the arrest warrant to the police boss seeking the extradition of the two.

They are wanted in Jersey where they authorities accuse them of money laundering and corruption.

Arrest pair

"The AG has just received the warrant today (Monday). He will read it and make a decision according to the law," said government spokesman Alfred Mutua.

The government appears to have hesitated to hand over the pair because the British government had not responded to its request to arrest Mr Devani so that he can face local charges.

Internal Security minister Orwa Ojode had earlier said Kenya should not hand over Mr Okemo and Mr Gichuru unless Britain agreed to reciprocate by extraditing Mr Devani.

"We believe that Devani is in the UK and they have so far refused to hand him over to others. We should not be so quick to hand over our people when they have refused to give us Devani," he said.

However, during the press conference in his office, Mr Wako said Britain had agreed to apprehend Mr Devani and extradite him.

He confirmed that a UK court has issued a warrant of arrest against Mr Devani, who is wanted in Kenya for fraud.

He made the announcement after meeting UK minister for Africa Henry Bellingham.

"I can confirm information that the British Minister for Africa and the United Nations in the Foreign and Common Wealth Office has assured me of the arrest warrant issued against Devani," he said.

The AG said Kenya had reason to believe that Devani was in the UK.

On the case against evangelist Gilbert Deya, wanted in Kenya in relation to child trafficking, the AG said the Kenya Government has to sort out a "few issues" before a warrant of arrest is issued in the UK.

Mr Okemo and Mr Gichuru, who face a jail term of 14 years on charges of money laundering in Jersey Island are virtually trapped in the country.


Daily Nation:*- News*|Kenya to give up Okemo, Gichuru

 

[Smatta]

KENYA TO GIVE UP OKEMO AND GICHURU.. I think this should be the topic's headline. We will overcome this monster called corruption, we are strengthening our institution then the slaying shall begin.

 

[Utingo]

KENYA TO GIVE UP OKEMO AND GICHURU.. I think this should be the topic's headline. We will overcome this monster called corruption, we are strengthening our institution then the slaying shall begin.

agreed, but with afric's politics, we end up slaying small fish and promote big fish to ministerial level.

 

[Nanu]

If they have stollen, let the law take its course!

 

[Ndinani]

If they can issue arrest warrants to Kenyans involved in money laundering, why are't they doing the same to the Tanzanians involved in similar crimes; those involved in the purchase of the Radar and presidential jet?

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

KENYA TO GIVE UP OKEMO AND GICHURU.. I think this should be the topic's headline. We will overcome this monster called corruption, we are strengthening our institution then the slaying shall begin.

Aloo Morio,

It all depends on how Wako and the new DPP play this thing. I have no trust in the Kenya Govt handing over Gichuru and Okemo
over to the Brits. Wako's record speaks for itself and the man on the Hill has to approve this move.

Kwa hivyo tusubiri.