EACC Takes Interest in Sh17 Billion Oil Saga
By Mwakwaya Raymond
Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com
Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission has issued a stern warning to those involved in the Sh17 billion fuel saga that has sparked accusations and counter-accusations between the opposition and government.
Twalib Mbarak, the EACC chief executive officer (CEO), says though there was no official complaint lodged so far, nothing stops the anti-graft body from exercising its mandate for public interest emerging issues.
The Anne Njeri’s Sh17 billion diesel deal dispute with the government has opened a Pandora box that has roped in the Azimio-One Kenya Coalition chief Raila Amolo Odinga leading to accusations and counter-accusations over the fuel saga.
“Currently, it’s not easy to know who is telling the truth because a lot of what’s going is accusation, you can’t commence any investigations now, but indeed we shall do so when time comes,” Mbarak said.
According to him the commission cannot bank on media reports and stories as evidence to present a case before a court of law and win it.
He said when the commission was ready to institute its own investigations it would do thorough work to ensure conviction for those found capable of the fuel offence.
In his recent public statement of the diesel deal, Odinga petitioned EACC investigation the energy and treasury cabinet secretaries over the fuel scam claiming the two were behind siphoning monies from the public kit to purchase the disputed fuel cargo.
Due to how the deal has generated public interest, Mbarak says he has been monitoring its development and the commission would only make its move when the appropriate time comes.
The EACC boss was responding to media questions when handing over recovered government properties grabbed by private individuals at Hobley area in Mombasa.
Last year Environment and land court sitting in Mombasa granted EACC orders prohibiting the defendants from any dealings on an estate measuring 8 acres with government staff quarters grabbed from the ministry of water ands its affiliate agencies at Shanzu area adjacent Shanzu Teachers College.
Hobley estate, adjacent Mombasa Municipal stadium within the Island and worth Sh500 million, was recovered and handed back to the Ministry of Housing.
The estate, currently housing Mombasa County staff, is among several other properties grabbed by influential private individuals.
Other public property recovered are seven properties compromising of six houses to Kenya Civil Aviation Authority KCAA.
