New revelations on the corruption scandal at the British American Tobacco (BAT) company, have featured Narc-Kenya leader Martha Karua, as one of the persons bribed by the cigarette firm.
UK's Independent news site reported that Karua was paid Sh7.6 Million (£50,000) in a bid to block a rival firm from winning a multimillion-pound contract.
The bribe which is termed as a political donation, was issued to Karua as she vied for the presidency in 2013, was meant to prevent a competing company from supplying technology to combat cigarette smuggling.
It is said that in return for the secret donation paid in cash via a middle man, BAT obtained key confidential Kenyan Revenue Authority (KRA) documents outlining the Sh15.2 Billion five-year contract, for the new technology designed to end tobacco smuggling. The company then had the contract cunningly delayed while it secretly pushed to get its own system chosen.
Paul Hopkins, a key whistle blower in BAT scandalous dealings, revealed that they had recorded meetings with Karua's election team aide, Mary Mukindia, who is now a member of the governing board of KRA, to strike the deal.
"BAT was keen to secure the contract to replace the paper stamp which appears on cigarette packets. The stamp shows the manufacturer has paid tax on the packet. The new scheme was aimed at making counterfeiting more difficult." UK's Independent reports.
However, the former Justice Minister has distanced herself from the allegations stating that she would respond to the published story through her lawyer.
The BAT scam first came to light after an investigative documentary was aired on BBC's Panorama Programme.
Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula, the then Trade Minister, was also mentioned as one of the politicians bribed in the East African region, to defy the set anti-smoking laws.
The documentary indicated that the tobacco company paid for a business class return flight for the Bungoma Senator's wife to London, a deal that was conducted by BAT's Lobbyist, Julie Adell-Owino.
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Read Also: How KRA Took Part in BAT Corruption Scandal - BBC
