OWN CORRESPONDENT, Nairobi | Wednesday 6.00PM.
THE boss of Kenya’s anti-corruption unit has been suspended by President Daniel arap Moi. Kenya Anti-Corruption Authority director John Harun Mwau was suspended after he tried to pursue senior treasury and tax department officials for alleged corruption.
Moi’s office has established a tribunal to investigate “the proper performance” of the office of the director.
On Mwau’s request, a magistrate issued arrest warrants on July 16 for the head of the Kenya Revenue Authority, the head of the Customs and Excise service and several other officials. The following day, the Attorney General’s office dropped the charges.
Finance Minister Simeon Nyachae said Mwau’s move was an attempt to intimidate treasury officials. He accused Mwau of targeting the finance ministry for a witchhunt and of having a hidden political agenda against him.
Mwau says he has sound evidence that the officials had illegally lowered duty on wheat and sugar imports, defrauding the government of four million dollars.
The KACA was set up late last year following a decision by the International Monetary Fund to suspend a multi-million-kina aid package for Kenya because of high-level corruption. The World Bank is withholding other funds because of the same concerns.