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Story by JEFF OTIENO and MUGUMO MUNENE

The Government is still pursuing economic crimes committed by public officers and influential people in the past regimes, a minister has said. Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister Martha Karua, however, said present and the future were more important.

Speaking on the side-lines of the 15th Commonwealth Lawyers Conference at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC), the minister said investigations on cases going back 10 to 15 years were still going on. “Some of the excavation work that has been going on, goes back 10 to 15 years. But you have to remember that the present and the future is more important than the past. Everything is included,” said Ms Karua.

On the Kroll document, Ms Karua said the file was still with investigators, adding that a report was yet to be written. “I cannot comment on that because we have to wait for them to either write a report or forward the file to the attorney-general,” she added. Her statement came as the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACC) clarified it was still pursuing influential people, who plundered the country’s coffers as per the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act.

“We will continue doing our work as mandated by the Act. We are still pursuing economic crimes cases and we will inform the public once everything is finalised,” the commission’s spokesman, Mr Nicholas Simani, said. A few days ago, Internal Security minister John Michuki said the Government will not pursue people involved in economic crimes committed by public officials.

Mr Michuki, who was speaking in his Kangema constituency early in the week, said the Kibaki administration was more interested in the future of Kenyans. However, when prodded further by journalists, the minister contradicted himself saying the Government will investigate crimes committed by the past regime.

The director of public prosecution, Mr Keriako Tobiko, declined to comment on the issue. The secretary general of the Kenya Episcopal Conference, Fr Vincent Wambugu said the bishops have not met and consulted on the matter. The Kenya Private Sector Alliance also opposed plans to forgive looters, saying graft raised the cost of doing business.