MPs Bribed With Free Apartments - New Exposé Claims

An image of protesters
Protests outside Parliament building in Nairobi on Tuesday June 9, 2020.
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A number of MPs have been accused of receiving free apartments as bribes in order to close a distillery in the latest crackdown.

In a letter addressed to Parliament Speaker Justin Muturi, the management of the troubled London Distillers Kenya (LDK) company claimed that some of the MPs had received significant subsidies on housing units for the same purpose.

The offer was reportedly extended to members of the Committee on Implementation of House Resolutions who had been probing the matter since it was reported in 2018.

The complaint was launched by a real estate company located behind the distillery which manufactures and distributes some of the most popular third-generation liquor in the country.

Entrance into London Distillers Limited in Mlolongo, Machakos County.
Entrance into London Distillers Limited in Mlolongo, Machakos County.
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The real estate company claimed that the distillery was polluting the environment through toxic emissions and dumping of raw waste into Athi River.

“We would therefore request that you order for an inquiry to be conducted in order to ascertain whether the confidential information we have received that several members of the committee have acquired houses either freely or over subsidised rate through proxies, being family members, relatives or companies in which they have interests, (which) could have led to a clear conflict of interest displayed,” stated an LDK Manager according to Business Daily.

The Parliamentary committee under the spotlight is headed by Narok North MP Moitalel Ole Kenta and has 19 members.

Other lawmakers on the committee include nominated MP Godfey Otsotsi (deputy), Alois Lentoimanga, Joseph Manje, Simba Arati, Richard Onyonka, Joseph Manje, Moses Kuria, Johnson Naicca and Nelson Koech.

In response, the lawmakers dismissed the claims arguing that it was an attempt at blackmailing the committee.

“We are not going to babysit anybody. We are not going to be cowed by anybody. They must comply with what the House recommended. Somebody is trying to run away from complying,” stated Ole Kenta.

LDK was seeking to have the committee disbanded and have another one set up.

The National Environment Management Authority (Nema) sided with the manufacturer giving the company a clean bill of health in complying with environmental regulations.

The committee, however, threw out the report claiming that NEMA had sided with the distilling company.

An aerial view of Athi River in Machakos County
An aerial view of Athi River in Machakos County
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