Govt signs deal with UK, Switzerland & Jersey for return of stolen assets

The government has signed a deal with the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Jersey for return of assets acquired corruptly in Kenya and stashed abroad.

Senator Ian Gorst for the Government of Jersey and Kenya’s Attorney General  Kihara Kariuki met at Harambee House in Nairobi on Tuesday.

“This significant move is to ensure that the people of Kenya win the war against corruption and reiterates the Government’s commitment that corruption should never pay,” a statement from Eric Kiraithe, the government spokesman said.

It is expected that the recovered assets will be used for development programs through the Framework for Return of Assets from Corruption and Crime in Kenya (FRACCK).

Kenya signed a similar deal with Switzerland in July this year with reports that up to Ksh.200million held in Swiss accounts had already been frozen as part of the cases in the Anglo-Leasing scam.

In 2016, Kenya recovered Ksh.52million shillings from the “Chickengate” scandal involving Kenyan election and examination officials who were bribed by UK-based printing firm Smith and Ouzman.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) Chief Executive Officer at the time, Halakhe Waqo, said the money would be used to purchase ambulances for Kenyan hospitals.