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{
"id": 253964,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/253964/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. Murungi",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 93,
"legal_name": "Kiraitu Murungi",
"slug": "kiraitu-murungi"
},
"content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, there is evidence being put forward to support the allegation that I assisted in cover-up, interference, and throwing down of the Anglo Leasing investigations. The allegations made against me by my old friend, who is now my enemy, Mr. Githongo, are based on two arranged conversations: The first one is during lunch at the Vice-President and Minister for Home Affairs' home on 4th May, 2004, and the second one is at an allegedly tape-recorded meeting in my office on 20th May, 2005. I would like to inform this House that I could not possibly have interfered with investigations. It is also a legal impossibility for me to have interfered with the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission's (KACC) investigations because under the Anti- Corruption and Economic Crimes Act, the only investigator of corruption in this country is the Director of the KACC or a person appointed by the Director. Mr. Githongo was neither the Director nor was he a person appointed by the Director. Under his duties, Mr. Githongo, was an advisor to the President. So, he was not an investigator of corruption and, therefore, I could not have possibly interfered with investigations because this person was not an investigator. Secondly, Mr. Githongo, appeared before the PAC on 28th June, 2004. The meeting, which I am supposed or alleged to have interfered with investigations was in May. Three weeks later, in 452 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES April 6, 2006 June, he appeared before the PAC. He spent two-and-a-half hours with the PAC. During that meeting, and since I was alleged to have interfered with investigations, it would have been fresh in his mind, but he did not tell the PAC about any interference. He told the PAC that the Anglo Leasing and Finance Company investigations were going on very well. He said that the taking of statements, the collection of information and investigations had continued unhampered. He also said that the KACC was making very good progress. All these statements appeared in the HANSARD of the PAC on 28th June, 2004, on pages 34, 35 and 42. It would have been very good if the Members of the PAC would have looked at their own previous record because it would have borne us out that the allegations being made by Mr. Githongo are clearly an afterthought. These are thoughts of a lonely man in exile, trying to imagine things. Mr. Speaker, Sir, when Mr. Githongo, appeared before the PAC on 11th February, 2006, in London, he told the Committee that he was not an investigator of corruption. He told the PAC: \"I did not have authority to conduct investigation in a criminal investigator process.\" This is on page 40 of the HANSARD. He says: \"I was working with the other agencies, assisting them in clarifying, systematising and analysing corruption information and putting it in a manner that His Excellency the President could consume and make decisions on the basis thereof.\" So, that is how he described his work. If he was not an investigator, what is this shouting and crucifying of Kiraitu Murungi for interfering with investigations for? Mr. Speaker, Sir, there have not been any complaints from the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission or the CID that I covered up or obstructed any investigations that they were carrying out. I would like to keep this House at ease that I am ready to face the law on this matter. I believe, with proper investigations, I will be found to be innocent. A lot of reliance has been put on the alleged tape-recorded conversations between myself and Mr. John Githongo which have been widely broadcast, both by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and the Cable News Network (CNN) and our local media. I would like to inform the House that I have taken legal advice. Those tape-recorded conversations are not admissible in evidence in any court. They are also immoral and dishonest. Mr. Speaker, you can imagine sitting in your office having a cup of tea and Kiraitu Murungi is carrying a tape-recorder."
}