Kenya’s president rejected a parliamentary Bill that sought to limit probes into major corruption cases after Western governments warned it marked a big step backwards in the fight against graft.
”President Mwai Kibaki has refused to assent to some of the amendments … [specifically] amendments to the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act 2003,” his office said in a statement released late on Thursday.
Kibaki had written to the speaker of Parliament outlining his reasons for rejecting the Bill and making recommendations for its amendment, it said without giving any details.
Two weeks ago, mainly opposition MPs defeated a government-backed amendment to anti-corruption laws that would have given the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACC) power to investigate crimes before May 2003.
Current legislation stops the KACC pursuing cases dating from the 24-year rule of president Daniel arap Moi, when endemic graft nearly brought East Africa’s biggest economy to its knees.
Kibaki replaced Moi in 2002 and is running for re-election at Kenya’s fourth general election, expected in December.
Corruption will be a factor at the ballot box. Critics say Kibaki has allowed it to continue, while his supporters argue that the worst perpetrators are now among the opposition ranks.
Western governments had called on Kibaki to reject the new Bill after legislators also removed a clause that would have made officials declare their wealth.
In a joint statement on September 14, the United States, European Union, Canada, Norway and Switzerland said the action represented a major step backward in the fight against graft, made the government less accountable and strengthened a culture of impunity they said continued to ”retard” development.
Kenya’s biggest corruption scandal, ”Goldenberg”, took place in the 1990s, while a second massive scam, ”Anglo Leasing”, began under Moi and continued into Kibaki’s rule.
The scandals have damaged the country’s standing with foreign donors, infuriated most of its 35-million people, and undermined Kibaki’s pledge to stamp out graft. – Reuters