Update: Global Anti-money laundering agency Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on Friday, February 23, 2024, placed Kenya on the grey list.
FATF warned that Kenya despite several policies put in place was at risk of failing to combat money laundering, terrorism and weapons of mass destruction.
Former Interior Cabinet Secretary, Fred Matiang'i, in May 2022, warned that gangs of money launderers and other criminals plotted to take over Parliament after the August polls.
Speaking during a forum of stakeholders in the criminal justice system on Tuesday, May 10, Matiang'i noted the money launderers, better known as wash wash gangs, were taking advantage of the flaccid financial state to manipulate the electoral process by compromising the voter.
The former Interior CS cautioned that the country risked having a large number of suspects in Parliament as they could buy their way to the office through money obtained from proceeds of crime.
“We could end up laundering criminals of unprecedented standards into our elective offices. We might have over 40 per cent of them elected if we allow these ‘wash wash’ gangs and other criminals to bribe their way in the coming elections,” warned Matiang'i.
Matiang'i stated that there was an exponential increase in digitally-driven crimes and failure to amend suitable laws on intelligence and prosecution was also giving an escape window to repeat offenders.
Further, the ex-CS stated that he was frustrated with the prosecution process and that suspects who use social media to abuse the judicial system received lenient treatment.
He cited the easy access to bonds as a major setback in discouraging the vice.
“We have the challenge of multiple bonds issued by our courts. Some of the people who have been arrested are enjoying their eighth, ninth or tenth bond. This, of course, does little to deter others from engaging an army of bloggers to character assassinate others," he added.
He noted there has been worrying misuse of social media, arguing that this was another alarming source of concern on election security and credibility.
Matiang'i exculpated the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) from blame for the feeble regulatory framework on campaign financing, stating an ideal tough legal administration would need a multi-sectoral approach.
The National Assembly recently amended the Elections Act to delete sections that sought to limit the amount of money a contestant can spend while seeking an elective seat.
The meeting was attended by Chief Justice Martha Karambu Koome, the Director General of the National Intelligence Services, Noordin Haji, the former Inspector General of Police, Hilary Mutyambai, and former DCI boss, George Kinoti, among other senior government employees.
