Naval ship probe moves to DoD

EA Standard July 25th 2005 by Ben Agina and Andrew Teyie
Army chief General Joseph Kibwana was last week visited by anti-graft director Justice Aaron Ringera over the Sh4.6 billion naval controversial ship tender.
The General spoke at length with Justice Ringera, who was accompanied by some of the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission officers, in his office at the Department of Defence last Thursday.
News of the meeting broke as we established top military brass meet this morning to discuss the KACC move.
The initial controversy was stirred by claims that the contract and financing were given to the shadowy figures linked to the Sh7 billion Anglo Leasing twin passport and forensic laboratory scandals.
The government was said to have been sold a civilian ship to be fitted with gunships locally at an extra cost to taxpayers. It was also suspected to have been pushed by high-ranking government officials and a private sector cartel hoping to skim part of the pay-out.
Last month KACC raised the tempo of the mega-million probe, which goaded donors to freeze aid to Kenya, by camping at the Kenya Navy headquarters for ten days tracking the controversial tender.
The team met Navy Commander Major-General Pasteur Awita and his deputy, a Brigadier Mwathethe. The session with Awita was on June 2 and 3. They carted away documents believed to be relevant to the probe.
KACC Communications manager Nick Simani had then confirmed that they were about to crack the case. "We are on their trail. Very soon we are going to crack the case but it is very extensive," stated Simani.
Sources yesterday revealed there was anxiety within the higher ranks of the military given the discomfort of having to field questions from civilian investigators. They are expected to raise their concerns when they meet this morning at the DoD. Gen Kibwana will chair the meeting.
Sources also revealed a section of the Service Commanders involved in the controversial purchase have been lined-up for session with KACC. In all the cases, and for their own security and employment status, the sources requested we conceal their identities.
Justice Ringera accompanied by two of senior officers is said to have opted to meet the General himself. He met General Kibwana at his office for three to four hours.
He decided to take up the assignment, our source revealed, after Gen Kibwana reportedly complained to the Head of Civil Service Francis Muthaura that his top commanders were being "ridiculed" by having to answer questions from junior investigators.
Questions were also being asked on whether the probe should in fact not be left to such internal organs as the Military Intelligence. It is said after receiving Kibwana’s complaint, Muthaura asked Kibwana for the list of the service Commanders he wanted to be handled by hing-ranking KACC officers.
After the DoD Thursday meeting, Ringera and his team later met the defence Permanent Secretary Mr Zachary Mwaura. Details of the two meetings were scanty as they were kept guarded through the military code of secrecy. Kibwana is said to have raised the issue after investigators visited the Kenya Navy headquarters at Mtongwe in June.
Insider sources within the KACC ranks reveal they have a water-tight case and that the President who is the Commander-in-Chief would soon be informed of the progress.
"The case has reached an advanced stage and the KACC boss will soon be talking to the boss (Commander-in-Chief)’’ said our source.
Sources also revealed KACC officers dispatched to Spain last month were back in the country.
The officers visited the Spanish shipyard of Astilleros Gondan, where they were given reams of papers -some in Spanish- which were being translated to English to tighten the case.
It has also emerged that a Project officer a Lieutenant Colonel Kituku who was supervising "construction" of the new naval ship has also been recalled from Spain together with another Major and a Warrant Officer.
Sources at Defence Headquarters said the recall took many by surprise as their departure was also unknown. Kituku spent nine of his 12 years in the Armed Forces working in Europe.
Three months ago, KACC moved into DoD, which was considered a no-go-zone for non-military groups. The KACC team also spoke to some army officers at the Chief of System’s office.
The former British High Commissioner, Sir Edward Clay, blew the whistle on the scam when he said it was part of the 20 corruption cases he had passed over to the President.
Clay claimed the Office of the President was the leading merchant of corruption, a feat perfected by re-establishing old corruption networks. It is now official General Kibwana, Major General Awita and the then Permanent Secretary Dave Mwangi were in the picture.
Also in the loop was the then International Security Minister Chris Murungaru.
Records indicate some five companies participated in the tenders. They were Damen Shipyards (Netherland), Vosper(British), Izar (Spain),Euromarine Industries(Spain) and CMN( France). It turned out that Vosper did not bid for the ship.
However, there are claims that the Equipment Acquisition Committee, which has top military officers including service commanders, did not pass the deal. General Kibwana chairs the Committee.
The Committee moved to make amends by dispatching letters to Treasury May last year.