News

By FRED OLUOCH

It was mixed fortunes as Kenya hosted the 15th Commonwealth Law Conference last week.

While the country got the honour of being the first country in Africa to host the prestigious conference in 25 years, the move by the Kenyan parliament to strip the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACC) of its powers at a time when the visitors were discussing the issues of governance and corruption, was a big embarrassment to the country.

The Kenyan parliament last week amended the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act to drastically curtail the powers of KACC to investigate economic crimes committed before its establishment in 2003. The amendments forced the anti-graft body to drop 13 out of the 18 Anglo-Leasing cases currently under investigation.

Unfortunately for Kenya, the move came soon after Justice Minister Martha Karua told the conference — attended by lawyers, judges and magistrates from 57 countries — that Commonwealth countries need to set up uniform laws to prevent looting and depositing of funds abroad.

It is widely believed that the proceeds of the Goldenberg and Anglo-Leasing scandals are stashed abroad, mainly in Western banks.

Recently, the Kroll report that was leaked to the press revealed that the previous regime carted up to $1.9 billion to foreign banks. Britain has claimed that their offer to help Kenya recover some of the money that could be banked in that country, has not been taken up.