Cross posted on my blog Mentalacrobatics.
I have managed to get a copy of the BBC Newsnight report on Corruption in Kenya.
John Githongo broke his silence in an explosive interview to the programme. The programme contains an interview with Mr. John Githongo, former Governance Permanent Secretary of Kenya, an interview with Mr. Edward Clay, former British High Commissioner to Kenya, an interview Mr. Joseph Muchemi, the Kenyan High Commissioner to the UK, and an interview with Mr. Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for International Development, UK. The programme also contains a secret recording Githongo took during a meeting with Kiraitu Murungi, former Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Kenya, where he is advised to “go slow” on his investigations.
Why the BBC? Why not The Daily Nation, East African Standard, KTN. KBC or one of the numerous FM stations in Kenya? In my opinion the answer is simple. Kibaki’s government not only does not care but DOES NOT KNOW what is going on in the country of Kenya. How else do you explain a government which 24 hours before a national referendum thinks it will win convincingly and when the results come out finds out that 7 out of 8 provinces voted against it? Moi’s power came from knowing what was going on everywhere all the time in the country. Kibaki doesn’t know and doesn’t care. Kibaki’s power seems to be based on money. Making noise in Kenya is important, but it is not enough. Simply because the people that sign the cheques that our government spends are in the West. Hit our political elite in the pocket and they will notice. Realpolitik people realpolitik. Anyway enough of my opinions watch the video and make your mind up for yourself and share your thoughts.
Here is the video:
Hat tip Mshairi 
Edit: The problem with blogging in the wee hours of the morning is that you get names wrong. The minister recorded in the clip, as spotted by Maitha and Mshairi, is Kiraitu and not Murungaru.
Mentalacrobatics……I have to disagree with you in terms of the issue or interview being done by the Kenyan media. How would we have know about it? We being the Kenyans abroad. Besides, Mr Githogo himself had to leave Kenya to be heard……otherwise he would have been silenced and we all know how that happens in Jamu.
$55 million dollars????? :-O It actually takes so much money to get a project for the people’s benefit off the ground? SHAME!!!
As mentioned in the interview with Mr Githongo, Britain is the largest doner to Kenyan aid………so, they have to know how their money is being spent. And after this revelation, ebu I hear someone asking me why I didn’t attend the fund raising event for the famine in Kenya held in London……./:) Unless am the one personally delivering a sack of food stuffs for them peeps…then sahau! As harsh as it sounds, it is reality. What guarantees that you will see the money help those who are suffering? Rest assured you will see it lining the pockets of our so called politicians………….buying BRAND NEW cars to ferry them to parliament. *TSK* *TSK* *TSK*
eh … my point was that it was necessary to use an international media house such as the BBC in order to have maximum exposure.
ohh pole for the misunderstanding. I nyita now!
Firstly it doesn’t help that the media in Kenya has been muzzled or compromised alot of the time.But even though they still do speak out at times but not loud enough.I think that it is time more checks and measures were placed on Ministers powers and that the civil service became more immune to political influence.I think it is time we changed the whole governance process in Kenya coz what we have is doing a whole disservice to the people…
Let’s not lose sight of what’s important here. We have the video, Githongo is brilliant and courageous! Where the video was released - no skin off my nose.
Yes what we should at this moment is never to loose focus on whats really happening,there are very many thieves of public resources in this kibakis governemt,what has been revealed is what was able to be tracked we are not aware of the other in house scandles.Its time Kibakis goverment should crack the whip name and shame the culplits and finally prosecute them.At the moment kenyans are dying of hunger while its jus t a few are stealing our hard taxed money.Its quite a pity that the president doest seem worried by this issue since he still dinnes and winnes with the culplits.Kenyans are tired and really tired of this and what we are saying is that we want to see all perpetrators brought to book al the money stolen returned and most of all we want a change of goverment yes not just a change but a change for the better.
Am extremely happy with what John Githongo did, would it not have been for him, everything would have been swept below the carpets, the thing is Kibaki’s gorvenment is all corrupt and the best thing for the Country is a fresh mandate for the parliament, this is a government that clearly manifests that you can bargain over issues and get the profit, when Kombo, Ngilu denied the cabinet posts, they had to bargain and give their demands that was later met, now we are seeing and reading about Anglo Leasing and Goldenberg reports, what evidence do they need if they have even watched the Video, Kibaki himself said that if anybody had an evidence of corruption to come out and give it to the Gorvernment for prosecution while he was being briefed daily by Githongo on Corruption and he kept his silence mpaka wa leo, what else does we need to prosecute these people including him? I have an idea…let Kenyans boycott paying taxes because this is where they get the money to loot, and let’s have a mass demonstration to force for parliament dissolution and a fresh mandate from the electorate. What am very sure about is that Kibaki will not investigate his own government him being part of the Corruption, KACC Boss will not prosecute his bosses as it’s Murungi and Murangaru who made him be where he is, Wako will not prosecute anybody because he too was involved in the Goldenberg, what else, mass demonstraion.
[...] The Anglo Leasing corruption scandal continues this week, a video (WMV file 34MB) of a piece done by the BBC is available on kenyaunlimited courtesy of Mshairi and Mentalacrobatics, it is also available on Bittorent thanks to Maitha. The video is of an interview with John Githongo, a former anti corruption official in the Kenya government, Sir Edward Clay, former British High commisioner to kenya, Mr. Joseph Muchemi, Mr. Hillary Benn secretary of state for international development UK. Therein is a recording Mr. Githongo made of cabinet minister Kiraitu Murungi, who was trying to scuttle John Githongo’s work by blackmailing him. Watch it to get an idea of the level of corruption Kenya is grappling with. As of the writing of this post, Mr. Murungi is denying the authenticity of the tape, while a former prosecutor Mr. Murgor confirms that indeed, that was Mr. Murungi’s voice and in line with his habit of impeding anti graft investigations.[via Nation Media - free subscription] [...]
[...] The Anglo Leasing corruption scandal continues this week, a video (WMV file 34MB) of a piece done by the BBC is available on kenyaunlimited courtesy of Mshairi and Mentalacrobatics, it is also available on Bittorent thanks to Maitha. The video is of an interview with John Githongo, a former anti corruption official in the Kenya government, Sir Edward Clay, former British High commisioner to kenya, Mr. Joseph Muchemi, Mr. Hillary Benn secretary of state for international development UK. Therein is a recording Mr. Githongo made of cabinet minister Kiraitu Murungi, who was trying to scuttle John Githongo’s work by blackmailing him. Watch it to get an idea of the level of corruption Kenya is grappling with. As of the writing of this post, Mr. Murungi is denying the authenticity of the tape, while a former prosecutor Mr. Murgor confirms that indeed, that was Mr. Murungi’s voice and in line with his habit of impeding anti graft investigations.[via Nation Media - free subscription] [...]
This now looks like a war between the British and Kibaki government
Mr. Githongo is the tool
So we nearly all concur! Githongo is our hero.
Githongo for president come 2007! No this is not a suggestion. I think the man is infact obliged to run!
It is nice for all of us to make a furore about this but when challeged to offer alternative leadership … Oh well Im not the political type. I can not work in the public domain!
If you cannot or do not want to serve the public, dont talk about those who are ready to loose their privacy, to have to entertain villagers and the press and God knows who else daily!
I am challeging Githongo and the rest of you bloggers and the media to do what Bisige is doing in Uganda!
Corrucption in Kenya - I suggest you all look at the following webpage
http://rattledsnake.squarespace.com/journal/