Githu names faces behind Sh1.4b Anglo Leasing debt

The People in NationalMay 19, 2014

By MERCY MWAI @wangumarci

Barely a day after Attorney General Githu Muigai and the Law Society of Kenya clashed over the handling of the Anglo Leasing cases in London and Geneva, the government has released names of individuals said to be the owners of the companies that won the contracts. Yesterday, the Office of the AG released a statement showing the shareholders of First Mecantile Securities Corporation and Universal Satspace that are set to be awarded with the Sh1.4 billion payout in accordance to a court order.

In a letter signed by Solicitor General Njee Muturi, the AG’s office named two Kenyans and two American-related companies as the faces behind Alldean Satellite Networks Ltd which is one of the companies under the Universal Satspace. The statement, which was delivered to the Senate committee on Finance, Commerce and Budget, shows as at December 31, 2007, Pritpal Singh Thethy (of P.O. Box 14400, Nairobi) with nil shares and Mohamed Muin Malik (of P.O. Box 40713-00100, Nairobi) with 7502 shares were the directors.

Njee also named Vertex Communications Corporation Trust Centre (with 17,49 shares) and a company named LLC registered in Wilmington, Newcastle (with 22,500 shares) as non-director shareholders. The move comes after LSK threatened on Saturday to strike Githu from the roll of senior counsel and demanded he resigns as AG. LSK also threatened to not only issue a certificate of dishonour to the AG, Muturi and Senior Deputy Solicitor General Muthoni Kimani, but also to file a suit to declare them unsuitable to hold public office and have them surcharged for the monies paid in the case.

LSK chairman Eric Mutua said they are of the opinion Githu, Muturi and Kimani were either negligent or conspired with the Executive to commit the legal blunders that resulted in Kenya having to pay Sh1.4 billion for suspicious contracts. But in a quick rejoinder Githu accused LSK of not only being sub-judice for commenting on matters that are before a court but also for being highly unethical, unprofessional, irresponsible and actuated by malice.

The AG said because LSK has filed a case in court seeking to stop the government from paying the two firms, commenting about the issues outside the courts amounts to contempt. He said he was “extremely shocked” by the statement from LSK, saying Mutua should not point fingers as he himself is under investigation.