Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) detectives on Thursday morning raided the house of former Internal Security Permanent Secretary Zakayo Cheruiyot demanding to know how he acquired the property. The four detectives who were accompanied by two armed police officers arrived at the Kuresoi MP’s home at 7am and demanded for the ownership documents of his Lavington house. The MP later told journalists that he complied and gave the officers all the documents they required after consulting his lawyer. “They came at around 7am and after seeking advice from my advocate, I complied and gave them the documents. I don’t know what they want to investigate; they just said they are carrying out some investigations,” the relatively calm MP said. He however pointed out that he was not sure whether it is linked to his Anglo Leasing case which is already ongoing “or someone is trying to flex his muscles.” He did not however divulge further information on who might be behind the raid. “I have been in court for the last 10 years on matters relating to Anglo Leasing, so I don’t know whether it’s in relation to that. I am already in court,” he said. “I have already been charged and it’s coming up for hearing on May 4.” On the ownership of his house, he said he legally acquired the property and he has all necessary documents. “This is my house and I have already made myself clear on that. I have been living here since 2000 and I have legal documents,” he stated. Other individuals have since been taken to court over the Anglo Leasing case among them businessman Deepak Kamani, his father Chamanlal and younger brother Rashmi. READ: 13 people to face charges in Anglo Leasing saga The start of the Anglo Leasing scandal was the contracting of a loan in December 2003 by the Department of Immigration which was then under the Office of the Vice President and Ministry of Home Affairs. The purpose of the loan was to enhance security by modernising the issuance of secure passports and purchase of security equipment for use at Kenya’s borders. The procurement process was however abused and a company going by the name Anglo Leasing and Finance Company Ltd was awarded the tender and Sh93 million paid up-front. This became public on May 4, 2004 when the matter was raised in Parliament.
Subsequent review revealed that in the external public debt database, there were a total of 18 contracts similar to the one arranged by the Anglo Leasing and Finance Company Ltd and from then on these loan contracts were labelled Anglo Leasing. Investigations revealed that the contracting of loans similar to Anglo Leasing had been going on in the Government for a long time. In August 2004, the Ministry of Finance suspended payments of all the loans similar to Anglo Leasing and instructed the Controller and Auditor-General to carry out a special audit. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) also investigated the matter and on March 30, 2006, its chairman tabled the report on “Special Audit on Procurement of Passport Issuing Equipment.” The report was adopted by Parliament on 4th April 2006. It covered all the 18 contracts and recommended that all contracts that had not been commenced should be terminated while those which had commenced should be re-negotiated with strict adherence to procurement regulations and procedures. It also recommended investigation and prosecution of all implicated.