Chris Murungaru
Encyclopedia
Dr Christopher Ndarathi "Chris" Murungaru (born August 19, 1954, Nyeri, Kenya) is a Kenya
n politician, a former Member of Parliament for Kieni Constituency
in Nyeri
District and a former Minister of Transport.
Before being appointed Minister of Transport, he had been the Minister of National Security. He was transferred to the Ministry of Transport following revelations of the Anglo Leasing Scandal. When President Mwai Kibaki
reconstituted the cabinet following a humiliating defeat in the November 21, 2005 constitutional Referendum
, he was dropped from the cabinet. A close ally of Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki
. when the National Rainbow Coalition
(NARC) Government took power from Kenya African National Union
(KANU) in 2003, Dr Murungaru was named to the powerful docket of Minister of Internal Security. He was later transferred to the Ministry of Transport though a cabinet reshuffle.
, due to allegations of corruption in the Anglo-Leasing scandal
. He has taken the British
Government to court challenging the cancellation of his visa. He has hired prominent Kenyan lawyer Paul Muite and a group of British lawyers, Mr Rabinder Singh, a Queen's Counsel
of Matrix Chambers, London, Mr Richard Stein, a senior partner in Leigh, Day and Company and Ms Tessa Hetherington, a junior counsel of Matrix to represent him.
On November 23, 2005, President Mwai Kibaki of Kenya dissolved his cabinet following a humiliating defeat on a referendum on the proposed constitution of Kenya. The president and his key allies, including Murungaru were campaigning for a Yes vote on the constitution, which they lost, forcing the president to reconstitute his cabinet.
named Murungaru as one of three top politicians (along with Kiraitu Murungi
, former Justice Minister and present Energy Minister, and Finance Minister David Mwiraria
) as being involved in a financial scam involving up to worth $600M On February 1, 2006, Finance Minister David Mwiraria
announced that he was stepping down as a minister and a member of cabinet to pave way for investigation. The news were received with joy by many Kenyans, though some saw him as a scapegoat who has been sacrificed to protect a president whose support has been waning.
On January 16, 2006, President Kibaki allowed anti-corruption chief Aaron Ringera
to request Murungaru to declare and account for his wealth. Murungaru has since moved to court to prevent the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission from investigating, saying fulfilling the commission's request would amount to self-incrimination.
Vice President Moody Awori
announced on February 2, 2006 that he would not step down despite being adversely mentioned in the Anglo Leasing Scandal. He has insisted that he is innocent, and that nothing short of due process will make him resign his post. He has criticized by many people for defending those involved in the scandal before Parliament.
On December 1, 2006, the Kenyan High Court determined that KACA's notice to Murungaru was not carried out according the laid down law that subsequently led to the High Court quashing KACA's case against Murungaru. The court did not however stop KACA from investigating Murungaru or anyone else for corruption but insisted that any orders issued by the Commission be done so in a legal manner.
A society in Kenya under the banner of the Name and Shame Corruption Network (NASCON) held a demonstration in the streets of Nairobi
to push for the resignation of more senior people in President Mwai Kibaki
's administration. Key among them is civil service boss Francis Muthaura
and Vice President Moody Awori.
In what was considered an upset, Murungaru was defeated by a comparatively obscure candidate in the Party of National Unity
's primary elections for its parliamentary candidates in November 2007.
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
n politician, a former Member of Parliament for Kieni Constituency
Kieni Constituency
Kieni Constituency is an electoral constituency in Kenya. It is one of six constituencies in Nyeri District, Central Province. The constituency was established for the 1988 elections.- Members of Parliament :- Wards :...
in Nyeri
Nyeri
Nyeri is a town in situated in the Central Highlands of Kenya Kenya, which was the administrative headquarters of the country's former Central Province...
District and a former Minister of Transport.
Before being appointed Minister of Transport, he had been the Minister of National Security. He was transferred to the Ministry of Transport following revelations of the Anglo Leasing Scandal. When President Mwai Kibaki
Mwai Kibaki
Mwai Kibaki is the current and third President of the republic of Kenya.Kibaki was previously Vice President of Kenya for ten years from 1978–1988 and also held cabinet ministerial positions, including a widely acclaimed stint as Minister for Finance , Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for...
reconstituted the cabinet following a humiliating defeat in the November 21, 2005 constitutional Referendum
Kenyan constitutional referendum, 2005
The 2005 Kenyan constitutional referendum was held on 21 November 2005. The proposed new constitution was voted down by a 58% majority of Kenya's voters...
, he was dropped from the cabinet. A close ally of Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki
Mwai Kibaki
Mwai Kibaki is the current and third President of the republic of Kenya.Kibaki was previously Vice President of Kenya for ten years from 1978–1988 and also held cabinet ministerial positions, including a widely acclaimed stint as Minister for Finance , Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for...
. when the National Rainbow Coalition
National Rainbow Coalition
The National Rainbow Coalition was a coalition of Kenyan political parties in power from 2002 and 2005 when it fell apart in a controversy between its wings about a constitutional referendum.-Formation:...
(NARC) Government took power from Kenya African National Union
Kenya African National Union
The Kenya African National Union, better known as KANU is a political party which ruled Kenya for nearly 40 years after its independence from British colonial rule in 1963, until its electoral loss at the end of 2002...
(KANU) in 2003, Dr Murungaru was named to the powerful docket of Minister of Internal Security. He was later transferred to the Ministry of Transport though a cabinet reshuffle.
Anglo Leasing Scandal
Recently, Dr Murungaru has been embroiled in a conflict with the British Government following cancellation of his Visa to enter the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, due to allegations of corruption in the Anglo-Leasing scandal
Anglo-Leasing scandal
The Anglo Leasing Scandal, also known as Anglo-fleecing, is the popular name for a corruption scandal in Kenya.-Origins:The scandal is alleged to have started when the Kenyan government wanted to replace its passport printing system, in the year 1997, but came to light after revelation by a...
. He has taken the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Government to court challenging the cancellation of his visa. He has hired prominent Kenyan lawyer Paul Muite and a group of British lawyers, Mr Rabinder Singh, a Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
of Matrix Chambers, London, Mr Richard Stein, a senior partner in Leigh, Day and Company and Ms Tessa Hetherington, a junior counsel of Matrix to represent him.
On November 23, 2005, President Mwai Kibaki of Kenya dissolved his cabinet following a humiliating defeat on a referendum on the proposed constitution of Kenya. The president and his key allies, including Murungaru were campaigning for a Yes vote on the constitution, which they lost, forcing the president to reconstitute his cabinet.
Fallout
On January 22, 2006, John GithongoJohn Githongo
John Githongo is a former Kenyan journalist who investigated bribery and fraud in his home country and later, under the presidency of Mwai Kibaki, took on an official governmental position to fight corruption. In 2005 he left that position, later accusing top ministers of large-scale fraud...
named Murungaru as one of three top politicians (along with Kiraitu Murungi
Kiraitu Murungi
-Education:Kiraitu Murungi was born on 1 January 1952 in Kionyo village, Abogeta division of Meru District in Central Kenya. He attended Chuka High School before proceeding to Alliance High School. Murungi graduated with a Bachelor of Laws in Nairobi University in 1977 and attained a Master of Law...
, former Justice Minister and present Energy Minister, and Finance Minister David Mwiraria
David Mwiraria
David Mwiraria was the Minister for Environment and Natural Resources previously Finance Minister of Kenya until December 2007 when Kenya held its General Elections...
) as being involved in a financial scam involving up to worth $600M On February 1, 2006, Finance Minister David Mwiraria
David Mwiraria
David Mwiraria was the Minister for Environment and Natural Resources previously Finance Minister of Kenya until December 2007 when Kenya held its General Elections...
announced that he was stepping down as a minister and a member of cabinet to pave way for investigation. The news were received with joy by many Kenyans, though some saw him as a scapegoat who has been sacrificed to protect a president whose support has been waning.
On January 16, 2006, President Kibaki allowed anti-corruption chief Aaron Ringera
Aaron Ringera
Aaron Gitonga Ringera is a Kenyan lawyer who served as a judge and as the former director of the Kenya Anti Corruption Commission .- Career :...
to request Murungaru to declare and account for his wealth. Murungaru has since moved to court to prevent the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission from investigating, saying fulfilling the commission's request would amount to self-incrimination.
Vice President Moody Awori
Moody Awori
Arthur Moody Awori , known as "Uncle Moody", was the 9th Vice President of Kenya from 25 September 2003 to 9 January 2008.-Politics:Awori was born in Butere. He went to Mangu High School in 1935, and later Kakamega High School...
announced on February 2, 2006 that he would not step down despite being adversely mentioned in the Anglo Leasing Scandal. He has insisted that he is innocent, and that nothing short of due process will make him resign his post. He has criticized by many people for defending those involved in the scandal before Parliament.
Court battles
On February 17, 2006, the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACA) arraigned Dr. Murungaru in a Nairobi court charging him without failing to declare and account for his wealth. The Commission believes that Dr. Murungaru has become too rich too quickly and has been investigating the source of his wealth, especially in relation to the Anglo Leasing Scandal. He denied refusing to declare his wealth, and was released on a bond of KES 200,000.On December 1, 2006, the Kenyan High Court determined that KACA's notice to Murungaru was not carried out according the laid down law that subsequently led to the High Court quashing KACA's case against Murungaru. The court did not however stop KACA from investigating Murungaru or anyone else for corruption but insisted that any orders issued by the Commission be done so in a legal manner.
A society in Kenya under the banner of the Name and Shame Corruption Network (NASCON) held a demonstration in the streets of Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
to push for the resignation of more senior people in President Mwai Kibaki
Mwai Kibaki
Mwai Kibaki is the current and third President of the republic of Kenya.Kibaki was previously Vice President of Kenya for ten years from 1978–1988 and also held cabinet ministerial positions, including a widely acclaimed stint as Minister for Finance , Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for...
's administration. Key among them is civil service boss Francis Muthaura
Francis Muthaura
Francis Kirimi Muthaura is a prominent Kenyan civil servant. Muthaura is a close ally of President Mwai Kibaki. He is the Head of Civil Service and Secretary to the Cabinet....
and Vice President Moody Awori.
In what was considered an upset, Murungaru was defeated by a comparatively obscure candidate in the Party of National Unity
Party of National Unity (Kenya)
Party of National Unity was founded as a political coalition of parties in Kenya. On September 16, 2007, Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki announced the party formation and said that he would run as its presidential candidate in the December 2007 Kenyan elections...
's primary elections for its parliamentary candidates in November 2007.
See also
- Anglo-Leasing scandalAnglo-Leasing scandalThe Anglo Leasing Scandal, also known as Anglo-fleecing, is the popular name for a corruption scandal in Kenya.-Origins:The scandal is alleged to have started when the Kenyan government wanted to replace its passport printing system, in the year 1997, but came to light after revelation by a...
- Mwai KibakiMwai KibakiMwai Kibaki is the current and third President of the republic of Kenya.Kibaki was previously Vice President of Kenya for ten years from 1978–1988 and also held cabinet ministerial positions, including a widely acclaimed stint as Minister for Finance , Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for...
- Moody AworiMoody AworiArthur Moody Awori , known as "Uncle Moody", was the 9th Vice President of Kenya from 25 September 2003 to 9 January 2008.-Politics:Awori was born in Butere. He went to Mangu High School in 1935, and later Kakamega High School...
- David MwirariaDavid MwirariaDavid Mwiraria was the Minister for Environment and Natural Resources previously Finance Minister of Kenya until December 2007 when Kenya held its General Elections...
- Kiraitu MurungiKiraitu Murungi-Education:Kiraitu Murungi was born on 1 January 1952 in Kionyo village, Abogeta division of Meru District in Central Kenya. He attended Chuka High School before proceeding to Alliance High School. Murungi graduated with a Bachelor of Laws in Nairobi University in 1977 and attained a Master of Law...
- Francis MuthauraFrancis MuthauraFrancis Kirimi Muthaura is a prominent Kenyan civil servant. Muthaura is a close ally of President Mwai Kibaki. He is the Head of Civil Service and Secretary to the Cabinet....
External links
- http://www.parliament.go.ke/MPs/members_murungaru_dr_c.php
- http://www.timesnews.co.ke/02dec06/nwsstory/topstry.html