Millions lost in 'chicken' scam

The infamous 'chicken' scandal is perhaps the most recent corruption case involving senior government officials.

The scandal, which implicates senior officials of the defunct Interim Independent Electoral Commission (IIEC), now the Independent Boundaries and Electoral Commission (IEBC), was brought to the fore late last year by a United Kingdom trial of a printing firm's top brass executives.

The trial of two Smith Ouzman directors in London brought to the limelight how a Kenyan agent, Trevy James Oyombra, was allegedly used to issue bribes to IIEC officials to secure printing tenders for the UK-based firm.

The money, codenamed chicken, would be sent to Mr Oyombra as part of his commission, and he would in turn give a slice of the funds to IIEC officials.

Christopher and Nicholas Smith were accused of bribing several IIEC officials with Sh50 million to sway them into awarding their firm the multi-million-shilling printing tender ahead of the 2013 elections.

The revelations were part of the prosecution's report following a four-year investigation by the Serious Fraud Office of the United Kingdom.

Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) contended that some IEBC officials could have been paid as recently as August last year.

Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) consequently demanded immediate resignation of all officers and former officers mentioned in the scandal, their arrest and prosecution.

CORD leader Raila Odinga insisted accountability must begin at the top, with the arrest and prosecution of Energy Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir and IEBC Chair Isaac Hassan, who have been accused of being at the centre of the scandal.

The British court found Nicholas and Christopher Smith guilty of the charges and will sentence them next month. But Chirchir and Hassan have denied involvement and maintained that all contracts awarded were above board.

EACC has stated it will get the UK court's judgement and take what is relevant to advance its ongoing probe.