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Church leaders urge former Kenyan president to talk about corruption
Episcopal News Service
Issue:
Section:
2003-152F
Posted: Monday, June 30, 2003
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Church leaders in Kenya have urged former president Daniel arap Moi to appear before a corruption regulator, the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACC), to answer questions on his involvement in a bank scandal, centering on state funds when he was in power.
Euro Bank, a small local bank, collapsed in February taking with it public funds amounting to some 1.8 billion shillings [US $24 million], most of it belonging to government parastatal organizations.
A former Kenya Postal Corporation director, Francis Chahonyo, told the anti-corruption court last week that he was ordered by Moi to deposit the money in the bank. The anti-corruption police have since asked Moi to record a statement on this allegation, triggering protests.
Anglican Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi appealed to Moi to appear before the commission to prove his innocence. 'Leaders have responsibilities when they hold office,' said Nzimbi. 'The president should come forward to explain, the same way a father would do to his children.'
But the leader of the parliamentary opposition, Uhuru Kenyatta of the Kenya African National Union (KANU) has urged Moi not to record any statement with the police. 'We are upset by the way the government is tormenting the former president,' he told a press conference on June 19 in Nairobi.
The government has held its stance that the former president should make a statement to clear his name of alleged corruption during his 24 years of rule.
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| © 2004, The Episcopal Church, USA. Episcopal News Service content may be reprinted without permission as long as credit is given to ENS. |
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