I didn't get any chicken, says Oswago

Kenya: Suspended Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Chief Executive Officer James Oswago, who is at the centre of a Sh50 million alleged bribe involving a UK company, has insisted that his hands are clean.

Oswago allegedly received part of the bribe codenamed "chicken" from the Kenyan agent of the UK printing firm Smith and Ouzman Limited to influence the awarding of a printing tender for electoral documents to the company.

"I did not receive any chicken or quail or whatever. When I say that, I am only speaking about myself. I don't know about the other people in the commission. I cannot speak for everyone. I have never even heard the word chicken until now. But as far as I am concerned I neither received nor demanded for chicken," he said yesterday.

Inflated prices

He added: "As a matter of fact, I have never seen that kind of money in my life that we allegedly received. This is a big joke for me. I am daring anyone to produce evidence that I received or demanded chicken."

The UK prosecutors handling the case at the Southwark Crown Court said Oswago received the alleged payments through Smith and Ouzman's Kenyan agent Trevy James Oyombra.Kenya:

The Prosecutors alleged that the bribe was facilitated after senior Interim Independent Electoral Commission officials inflated prices of ballot papers by up to 38 per cent mainly to cater for the kickbacks to senior election officials.