Dave Opiyo
10 September 2009
Nairobi — Kengen Managing Director Mr Eddy Njoroge has said he is ready to resign if anyone has information implicating him in corruption.
While maintaining that he was "clean", Mr Njoroge further challenged the Kenya Anti Corruption Commission to come out in the open and confirm whether he was being investigated as an individual and if so, on what.
"If any Kenyan or foreigner knows of any corrupt dealings by me, let him pass it on to the relevant authorities... and if they have anything touching on me, I'm willing to step aside," he said at a Thursday news conference.
"I have been at the forefront in the fight against corruption both here and within the country. This war will not be won by tarnishing people's character and name but by focusing on real issues."
He went on: "I wish to state that I have suffered great personal agony by joining the public service. Being accused of corruption is the real limit for me." The Kengen MD was among several prominent Kenyans named in Parliament on Wednesday as being probed on graft allegations by KACC.
Justice minister Mutula Kilonzo, in response to a member's question, tabled the list that contained the names of six ministers, seven MPs, senior government officials and a host of other prominent Kenyans in the House.
The move came came amid the controversy surrounding the reappointment of Justice Ringera.
Mr Njoroge was said to have been involved in the irregular extension of contracts for the drilling of 15 wells at Olkaria.
The Kengen MD conceded that such a case existed and was being investigated by the KACC officials, but stated that he had nothing to do with it.
He revealed that the anti graft watchdog wrote to him on November 24, last year over the matter after which they promptly responded almost a month later, giving them the full dossier.
"I later, in February, met an official from KACC to substantiate our response. Since then, I have heard nothing from them. I again wrote to KACC asking how far they have gone with investigations. So far, there has been no response."
"Could I have been pushing them to complete investigations knowing all too well that I am guilty?" he posed.
"God, and through Jesus Christ, who I profess to be my personal saviour is my witness. I have never made a single shilling over an above my salary from this office."
"I would want to confess publicly that on more than one occasion, some people have been to my office with unbecoming overtures, and I have thrown them out."
Mr Njoroge said he has been so strict on this principle that he has, on various occasions, auctioned all his Christmas gifts and forwarded the proceeds to charity.
He explained that the fact that he was Kengen's chief executive, who was accountable to everything that happens in the company, it did not mean that he was necessarily responsible for them.
"Kengen has more than 1,580 employees who are all responsible for various roles and functions. If one of these staff members does something corrupt, I may be ultimately accountable but not necessarily responsible," he said.
"This goes to re-emphasise the point that an investigation in Kengen could be targeted at somebody else other than me."