Kimemia links ouster to power struggles in Uhuru government

Politics and policy

Mr Francis Kimemia blames unnamed people close to the ruling Jubilee coalition of waging a witch-hunt and propaganda war against him. PHOTO | FILE 

By GEORGE OMONDI, omondi@ke.nationmedia.com

In Summary

• Francis Kimemia was temporarily forced out of office last month over allegations that he abused office to deprive former employees of Kenya Railways Corporation of houses under a Sh5 million tenant-purchase scheme.
• Mr Kimemia is also alleged to have presided over a Sh1 billion tender irregularity while serving as the permanent secretary in the Interior (then called Internal Security) ministry.

Suspended Secretary to the Cabinet Francis Kimemia and Michael Kamau, the Transport and Infrastructure secretary, on Thursday linked power struggles in government to their ouster over graft.

Mr Kimemia particularly blamed unnamed people close to the ruling Jubilee coalition of waging a witch-hunt and propaganda war against him.

“I have worked in the government for many years but this is the first time I’m being asked to appear before an anti-graft agency,” Mr Kimemia told journalists after a two-hour grilling by Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) officers on Thursday.

“It is only after this government was formed that I started facing several allegations.”

He added: “This is a country where jealousy creates room for all manner of propaganda. I am not bitter, but I do expect fairness in the investigations.”

Mr Kimemia was temporarily forced out of office last month over allegations that he abused office to deprive former employees of Kenya Railways Corporation of houses under a Sh5 million tenant-purchase scheme.

He is also alleged to have presided over a Sh1 billion tender irregularity while serving as the permanent secretary in the Interior (then called Internal Security) ministry.

“The so-called irregular tender was awarded in 2014, long after I left the ministry and was serving as Secretary to the Cabinet. I don’t own any house that belongs to Kenya Railways. It’s only that I have not been keen to respond to every allegation levelled against me but they are all baseless.”

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Mr Kamau was, however, more cautious, choosing to dodge Press queries. “Tell people to continue working. Somebody has even hacked into my Twitter account but I want to say I have no ill feelings. As for the ongoing investigations are concerned, I won’t say anything.”

Mr Kamau has been forced to step aside to pave the way for investigations into allegations that he illegally contracted Landmark Clearing & Forwarding to clear 80 per cent of import cargo belonging to a Chinese company building the Sh327 billion standard gauge railway at Mombasa port.

Both Mr Kimemia and Mr Kamau were inherited from the Kibaki’s administration when President Kenyatta formed his first Cabinet in 2013. The two have largely been seen as among the President’s favourite in the Cabinet.

Also grilled on Thursday were suspended Energy secretary Davis Chirchir, the Kenya Airports Authority chief executive Lucy Mbugua and Mombasa-based landowner Evanson Waitiki