Kenya sues minister, MPs

2008-12-02 12:35

Nairobi - Kenya's anti-graft body is suing a minister, two sitting and four former lawmakers for allegedly receiving illegal allowances, according to court documents seen by AFP on Tuesday.

The Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACC) has filed against Information Minister Samuel Poghisio for claiming 2.8 million shillings between November 2006 and November 2007, according to the documents.

Deputy defence minister David Musila is accused of receiving 5.8 million shillings, the largest amount, while lawmaker Ekwe Ethuro took 700 000 shillings in irregular allowances.

Former MPs Joseph Kamotho, Peter Oloo Aringo, Daniel Khamasi and Justin Muturi took a total of 11.2 million shillings.

The defendants "wrongfully and unjustly enriched themselves by receiving illegal payments as allowances", read the lawsuit lodged last Friday.

KACC maintains that the allowances were paid in breach of the provisions governing the remuneration of MPs and members of Parliamentary Service Commissions.

The high court is expected to summon the accused.

President Mwai Kibaki's government has been plagued by numerous graft allegations, including poll fraud in last December's general election, despite a vow to stamp out corruption when he came to power in 2002.

- AFP