Ex-IEBC CEO says being framed for saving taxpayers money

Ex-IEBC CEO says being framed for saving taxpayers money

Former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) CEO James Oswago now claims that he is being framed in the chickengate scandal that hit the electoral body.

Oswago says he never played any role, directly or indirectly, in the scandal that saw two directors of a British firm based in London, Smith & Ouzman, jailed for allegedly giving bribes to Kenyan electoral and examination officials to win lucrative printing tenders.

Speaking to the press in Nairobi, Oswago claimed that there is a calculated scheme to use him as the scapegoat and heap all blame on him for all electoral ills in the 2013 General Elections.

Oswago further claims that certain individuals in IEBC were being sanitized thus very determined to ensure he takes the fault.

The former CEO adds that he was not given a chance to know the allegations facing him and EACC, up to date, has not taken a statement from him regarding the scam.

On Tuesday, EACC recommended that criminal charges be proffered against the alleged mastermind of the scam, Trevy Oyombra, Oswago, and two former procurement officials over the chickengate scandal in which over 50 million shillings was paid out as bribes to the then poll officials.

“I find it odd that in this country when you make a decision backed by the law and one that saves money, the only thing you can get is condemnation,” lamented Oswago.

“If responsibility must be shared it has to be corporate shared responsibility.”

And while referring to the procurement issues raised on the BVR kits, Oswago maintained that due process was followed insisting that there were issues during procurement process.

“Why would you award a contract to a company that has quoted one billion above your budget?” asked Oswago.

This comes even as Attorney General Githu Muigai warned against disbandment of the IEBC secretariat and sending the commissioners home.

The AG, who was appearing before the Joint Parliamentary Select Committee on IEBC reforms, said the committee was legally formed adding that the team can provide for a mediated process and exit of the IEBC Commissioners with a send off package guaranteed to them.

The Attorney General further added that disbanding the IEBC secretariat would greatly affect plans for the 2017 General Elections.

This unfolded after a four-year investigation by UK’s Serious Fraud Unit of deals involving UK Firm Smith & Ouzman executives revealed that the Kenyan electoral and examination officials allegedly received bribes code-named ‘chicken’ through their agent, Trevy Oyombra to receive lucrative printing tenders.

Apart from conviction, the Smith & Ouzman executives were ordered by a UK court to pay 244 million shillings as fine.

Tags:

IEBC EACC scam scandal Githu Muigai AG bvr kits procurement process Former IEBC CEO James Oswago chickengate Joint parliamentary select Committee on IEBC printing tenders Smith & Ouzman trevy oyombra UK Firm

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