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Church leaders praise government move to repatriate Kenya's billions
Episcopal News Service
Issue:
Section:
2003-104-5
Posted: Tuesday, May 13, 2003
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Church leaders in Kenya have welcomed a government announcement that it will seek to repatriate up to 160 billion Kenyan shillings (US$ 2.21 billion) stashed away illegally in secret bank accounts abroad.
Much of the money is alleged to have been taken from public funds by politicians in the previous administration, which lost power in December.
'This is in the right direction,' said the Rev. Michael Sande, an Anglican priest in Nairobi. 'Any cent stolen from Kenyans should be returned to them. We need the money to restore what has been destroyed.'
Maloba Wesoga, administrative secretary of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi, said the money in the secret bank accounts had been stolen from Kenyans. 'It must be returned at all costs. It is needed to strengthen the kitty for free primary school education and improve the quality of health services, especially in church-run hospitals,' Wesoga told ENI.
The calls for the money to be repatriated followed the election victory last December of the National Alliance Rainbow Coalition party, which ousted the Kenya African National Union after it had been in power for 40 years. The coalition had pledged to stamp out corruption and revive the economy. The Sunday Nation newspaper reported Kenyans are estimated to hold up to 160 billion shillings in numbered bank accounts abroad.
Robinson Githae, Kenya's assistant minister for justice and constitutional affairs, said in March that some officials of the previous government had put up to 60 billion shillings in foreign accounts, the newspaper reported.
Many church leaders have urged those implicated to repatriate the money voluntarily, confess in court and then seek amnesty, but some clergy disagreed. 'Theft must be dealt with by the laws of the land. Amnesty on this issue will only make Kenyans poorer,' said the Rev. Patrick Mungiriria of the Presbyterian Church of East Africa. 'If the government knows who these people are, it should apply the law to return the money.'
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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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