The Former Cabinet Minister Christopher Murungaru will receive Sh27 million for defamation after he convinced the High Court that his political career was killed and his reputation tarnished after being linked to the multi-billion-shilling Anglo Leasing scam.
Murungaru had alleged that his political career was killed when the former EACC chief John Githongo brought to light the scandals report in November 2005.
Githongo said on February 22, 2004, he discussed with Mr Kibaki widespread corruption that had permeated his administration.
“I explained to the former head of state that Murungaru’s Cabinet colleagues were referring to him as muici (thief). He told me to get to the bottom of the matter.”
John Githongo had claimed that retired President Mwai Kibaki was aware of all the issues surrounding the Anglo-Leasing scandal.
Mr Githongo said top National Rainbow Coalition officials feared the scandal would bring down the Kibaki administration and senior State officials wanted the issue softened for fear it would “bring down many in the system”.
Former Finance Minister David Mwiraria
The court heard that when the heat became too much, David Mwiraria, the Finance minister at the time, and his Justice counterpart Kiraitu Murungi, met Githongo and advised him to slow down. Githongo said Mr Mwiraria informed him that money siphoned from the Government had started trickling back to Treasury. That was on June 11, 2004.
Githongo said he was also informed Murungaru was frustrating investigations into the scandal.
“Mr Murungi and Mr Mwiraria stepped into my office without notice and told me Murungaru wanted to kill me on May 20, 2004,” said Githongo as he was cross-examined by Murungaru’s lawyer, Kioko Kilukumi.
“There is no way a transaction could have taken place without involvement of Murungaru who was the minister at that time,” Githongo said, adding that the former minister was Kibaki’s friend at that time.
According to Githongo, senior government officials knew the players and those involved in the Anglo
Githongo said he had with him reports from various departments including Kenya National Audit Office, Kenya Anti-Corruption Authority and from Director of Criminal investigations. “I gave the President the tape recordings of the corrupt transactions of Aglo-leasing,” said Githongo.
“Some of the records did not have the name of Murungaru but since his ministry was involved in corruption, he was linked with the scandal.”