By Vitalis Kimutai

Kanu wants the police and Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to investigate the alleged irregular withdrawal of Sh6.5 million from a party account at a local bank.

Kanu has also filed a complaint with the Registrar of Political Parties and the Political Parties Tribunal over alleged infringement on their traditional colours by the newly launched The National Alliance party (TNA).

The party claims that two former officials – Mr Justin Muturi (former organising secretary) and Dr Abdi Ali (former treasurer) wired out the money nine days after being removed from office.

Records made available to the Press on Thursday by the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) at Kanu headquarters, Nairobi, indicate that the money was transferred from Co-operative Bank, Parliament Road branch, account number 01120011317900 on April 23.

Only Sh23,000 was left in the account. The cheque authorising the payments was drawn on April 18 – only four days after a Special National Delegates Council (NDC) meeting that saw former Kanu chairman and Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta replaced by former Baringo Central MP Gideon Moi.

The money was transferred to an account at Gulf African Bank, Eastleigh branch, Nairobi according to documents from Co-operative Bank, five days later.

Kanu Secretary General Nick Salat released the documents at a news conference where the NEC members accused Muturi and Ali of allegedly fleecing the party after decamping to TNA.

The money was part of the Sh16.7 million the party received from the exchequer through the Political Parties Fund in the last financial year.

“The officials withdrew the money hoping that Kanu would not comply with the Political Parties Act. We are demanding that police and EACC officials conduct investigation into the matter,” Mr Salat said.

transaction

He also wants the Auditor General to intervene since the money was from the Political Parties Fund.

The transfer was effected despite an attempt by the party to have the account frozen following NDC resolutions.

“I hand delivered the letter to the bank on Monday, April 16 after the Special NDC was held the previous Saturday, but it was rejected on the grounds that it had to be sanctioned by the Registrar of Political Parties,” he said.

Salat claims the Registrar Lucy Ndung’u insisted that Muturi was still a signatory to the account.

He wrote to the bank on May 14, and they replied on May 15 indicating the transaction.

The letter from the bank reference  S/P.ROAD/GEN.IND/KANU/eoo was signed by Mr Eliud Ogutu, Senior Manager – Legal Company Secretary’s Department.

“We confirm that we received valid instructions duly signed by Dr Ali and Muturi, which were effected as per their instructions on April 23,” the bank stated.

Muturi has since admitted that he signed the cheque number 000338 alongside Ali, which authorised the bank to wire out the money.

Efforts to reach Ali for a comment were futile.