KenyaUnlimited has 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.
The video is here [WMV file 33 MBs - 18 minutes long].
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 Murungi and not Murungaru.
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February 9, 2006 at 6:12 am
bankelele
Is the 18min video a BBC piece or all Githongo tape?
February 9, 2006 at 6:14 am
Mentalacrobatics
The 18 min video contains the 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 recording Githongo did of meeting with Muranguru where he is advised to “go slow” on his investigations.
February 9, 2006 at 6:55 am
maitha
this is surely bound to ruffle some feathers in the current establishment .Muchemi takes up his sycophant role very nicely .
the meeting was with kiraitu - his trademark laugh a dead giveaway will be interesting to see how he defends himself against this hard evidence
great work . with this “exclusive ” i am sure traffic on the kenyaulimited site has sky rocketed ….. meanwhile let me start seeding it in bittorrent.
February 9, 2006 at 9:26 am
mshairi
Just a point: the voice on the tape (jovially saying ‘go slow’ - what a pratt!) is alleged to be that of Kiraitu and not Murungaru, mentalacrobatics.
Fergal Keane - the reporter covering this issue - was on the BBC News again this morning.
February 9, 2006 at 12:22 pm
Afro
good scoop!
That recording of murungi is preety damning. I hope this gets more traction behind the fight against graft. Es moto.
February 9, 2006 at 12:23 pm
Afro
@bankelele, its a bbc piece.
February 9, 2006 at 12:42 pm
Mocha!
*Copied from KBW*
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????? (look of utter bewilderment) 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……(raises an eyebrow of sarcasim). 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*
February 9, 2006 at 3:08 pm
POTASH
Ok. I loved the PDF document , but this is off the hook. Of course i Have to sambaza this. Give you the due credits though…big up.
February 9, 2006 at 10:31 pm
Adrian
at the moment, there are two things on my mind:
a) i hope the release of the githongo report back home has consequences
b) i hope that githongo is and remains safe
February 10, 2006 at 1:14 am
JKE
It’s interesting to see the difference between Githongo and Muchemi - to me that’s like the modern Kenya vs. the old one.
Thx Mental & Mshairi for keeping us informed!
February 10, 2006 at 2:03 am
Whispering Inn
Githongo has BALLS!
Brilliant!
February 10, 2006 at 7:49 am
Shiroh
That Murungi laughter has sold him. Githongo is finally getting interesting with tangible proof. Lets watch and see.
February 10, 2006 at 8:01 am
kefa
Githongo’s revelation is well timed kibakis government has no respect for the rule of law,Kibaki is daily dinning and winning with the real perpetrators of corruption and doesnt seem to be stuck by the outcry of the people, he see, no evil nor hears no evils,despite the loud calls for him to sack all those involved in corruption the best he can do is rather defend the by keeping quiet meaning he seees nothing bad in them,its quite ashtonishing that he called a cabinet meeting to discuss corruption yet the vice president sitting next to him is personally involved in corruption this is quite funny not mentioning the fact the the minister mentioned in githongos interview was also in attendance plus the Education minister who also is involved in a grand scam(Goldenberg scandle).All this have ben reduced to throwing blame from no person to another nobody wants to take responsibility yet we clearly know that there should have been somebody responsiblr fotr the actions.We Kenyans are tired of all this and its high time that the president took totoal contriol of the events happenig in the country and nd this scandle once and for all.WE ARE TIRED AND SICK AND WANT AN END TO ALL THIS
February 10, 2006 at 8:27 am
Prousette
Githongo is one hell of a smart man. Complete with tapes and documentary evidence! Now we watch and wait as the guilty people squirm and deliver dying kicks. Murungaru has even ordered Maina Kiai to be investigated as well because he is putting his nose where it does not belong.
Cross my fingers and toes as well that someone will have to go.
Whatever happened to the excuse money has been poured to tarnish my good name? No one is using it any more.
February 11, 2006 at 12:32 am
Keguro
Prou, not so quick
The excuse is alive and kicking (witness Saturday’s Nation).
But it sounds more like the cries of a dying goat. (Courtesy of mzee nyama choma!)
February 12, 2006 at 10:00 am
M
LOL! Murungaru had the temerity to say that it was a plot by the LDP and KANU. What a schmuck!
But knowing Kibaki, the man will happily sleep on his fence until the cows come home. Neither he nor Wako nor Ringera have the balls to take this thing to its conclusion