NAIROBI, Kenya (AP):
A KENYAN court yesterday refused to freeze an anti-corruption investigation against a former Cabinet minister suspected of involvement in multimillion dollar scandals that have shaken the government.
DECLARE WEALTH
High Court Judge Joseph Nyamu refused a request by defence lawyers to temporarily halt the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission from investigating Chris Murungaru, a lawmaker and close ally of President Mwai Kibaki, saying the matter is "of great public interest, which overrides the interests of the applicant."
The Anti-Corruption Commission has ordered Murungaru to declare his wealth and specify how he acquired it by today.
The commission is investigating allegations that he played a central role in multimillion dollar scandals that have shaken Kibaki's administration.
A lawyer for the former minister said forcing him to declare his wealth unfairly shifts the burden of proof to the suspect.
Doing so would also threaten his constitutional right against self-incrimination, Kilukumi said after the court ruling.
Kenyan law requires public officials to declare their wealth to relevant commissions. Murungaru has submitted information to the Parliamentary Service Commission.
The wealth declarations are not public, but the Anti-Corruption Commission is allowed by law to examine official wealth declarations to investigate suspected fraud.
MODE OF INVESTIGATION
Murungaru wants the court to declare a part of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act, under which the commission has ordered him to account for his wealth, as unconstitutional, Kilukumi said.
"We are not saying the entire act is unconstitutional. It is the mode of investigation as provided by the act," Kilukumi said.
On Wednesday, Finance Minister David Mwiraria resigned following persistent allegations that he was involved in some of the corruption scandals related to security contracts.
