Interesting insights at Ouko inquiry
By LUCAS BARASA
and MARK AGUTU
The parliamentary inquiry into the 1990 murder of Foreign Affairs Minister Robert Ouko finally got underway this week.
And as was anticipated, names of top officials in the former government featured prominently in testimonies of witnesses who took the stand in the first five days.
At the core of the evidence adduced before the committee was the fall-out the former minister had with fellow senior government officials over his stand against high-level graft and gross human rights violations at the time prior to his disappearance and murder 14 years ago..
Witnesses traced the genesis of the ministers' trouble to a "corruption dossier" he was preparing and which heavily implicated top government officials. The report catalogued vices within government which included millions of dollars stashed in foreign accounts by leading figures close to retired President Moi. Demands for kick-backs by top government officials before approving investment in the country were some of the damning information said to be in the minister's dossier. The rehabilitation of the stalled Kisumu Molasses Plant was one of the projects cited in the kick-backs scandal.
Witnesses said Dr Ouko maintained that the country risked total collapse if the vices were left to continue. Rampant human rights violations said to have tainted Kenya's image abroad included detention without trial and police torture.
The stand-off between Dr Ouko and his opponents in government worsened during January 1990 trip to the US for the annual breakfast prayer meeting.
Although Dr Ouko was against the trip, citing Kenya's bad image abroad and expressing fear the 82-member delegation might receive unpleasant reception, he was over-ruled by former President Moi.
In the US Dr Ouko however managed to secure an appointment between Mr Moi and President George Bush (senior) through then Secretary of State James Baker.
Upon returning to his hotel, Dr Ouko was met by then powerful cabinet minister Nicholas Biwott who chided him with the remark: "So you are back, Mr President" to which Dr Ouko replied that he was not the president but just a minister, the inquiry was told.
The temperatures went a notch higher when Dr Ouko went to President Moi's suite to brief him on the impending meeting with President Bush.
An angry President Moi never gave him time to say anything on the appointment but instead roared at him: "What is this report I am hearing you are writing about corruption in my government?"
The President ordered him out of the suite even as Dr Ouko attempted to assure him the report was for the good of the country and they would discuss it as soon as they got home.
Following the row Dr Ouko was left behind and forced to find his own way back to the country. His passport confiscated on arrival. He was upon arrival on February 4, 1990 summoned by the President who ordered him to proceed to his rural home in Koru for his leave.
His subsequent efforts to see the President were blocked by Internal Security permanent secretary Hezekiah Oyugi.
On the night of February 12, 1990, Dr Ouko was picked from his home only for his charred remains to be recovered on the foot of Got Alila four days later.
According to the inquiry's third witness, Mr Barack Mbajah, Dr Ouko's step-brother, a note left behind by Ouko listed former District Commissioner Jonah Anguka, Nairobi lawyer George Oraro, bank official Paul Gondi and businessman Eric Onyango as the people who picked him up.
A former policeman Mr David Mburu Mukhwana - the fourth witness on his part named Mr Oraro, Dr Ouko's chief campaigner a Mr Koyoo and Mr Anguka as those who lured the minister out of his house.
He said the Administration Policeman guarding Dr Ouko's home, Mr Zablon Agalo Obonyo was given Sh4 million by Mr Anguka to conceal information on what transpired the night the minister disappeared.
Other witnesses who have so far testified but might be recalled are Ms Selina Were (Ouko's house-help) and Kisumu Town West Kanu chairman, Eliud William Ndalo, a worker at Ouko's farm.
Ms Were, the first to testify said Mr Oyugi and Mr Anguka were present in the compound on the night Dr Ouko was kidnapped .
And only four days before the minister was seized and bundled out of his compound, one of Mr Oyugi's officers- an inspector in-charge of a nearby police camp-held a meeting with Dr Ouko's workers...and afterwards all the workers seemed to be in money.
The second witness, Mr Were also said Mr Anguka, Mr Oyugi and a third man took positions around the minister's house shortly before he disappeared.
Scotland yard detective Superintendent John Troon, Ms Marianne Briner Mattern,an international investment consultant with a Swiss registered company -BAK Group and Mr Anguka have also been summoned.
Mr Oraro and Mr Gondi have since denied any involvement in Dr Ouko's disappearance and murder and said they were ready to appear before the committee to adduce any evidence required.
MPs presiding over the inquiry include Samuel Moroto, Samuel Leshore, Dr Abdullahi Ali, Prof Christine Mango, Paul Muite, Njoki Ndung'u, Oburu Oginga, Otieno Kajwang, Joe Khamisi, Henry Obwocha and Soita Shitanda.
The hearing resumes on March 8.
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bwanika
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