Kenya's biggest scam probe ends

By Noel Mwakugu
BBC News, Nairobi

Mr Pattni, the man behind the scam, claims it started out with good intentions

The long-running inquiry into Kenya's biggest financial scandal has ended after some 300 days.

The so-called Goldenberg Affair is thought to have cost Kenya as much as $600m between 1990 and 1993.

During the hearings, former President Daniel arap Moi was accused of being part of a scam that involved re-exporting gold and diamonds.

Neither Mr Moi nor his close aides appeared in person but their lawyer denied the allegations on their behalf.

Kenyan court of appeal judge Samuel Bosire has drawn the curtains on what is being termed the most expensive government probe into a saga that is blamed for the long-lasting cash-crunch at Kenya's treasury.

Glamour denied

In February 2003, President Mwai Kibaki honoured one of his pre-election pledges to Kenyan voters, by appointing a judicial inquiry to investigate the loss of up to $600m under Mr Moi's government.

The probe was expected to reveal how deeply key members of the former president's government were involved.

It's not clear whether Mr Moi will have to give evidence

A total of 65 witnesses appeared before the commission, including Kamlesh Pattni now considered the chief architect.

They gave details of how former government officials allegedly took part in looting government resources through a fake gold and jewellery export compensation scheme.

Those adversely mentioned also include some senior officials in President Kibaki's government, among them former Vice-President George Saitoti, now minister in charge of education.

However, many Kenyans were denied the glamour they had expected when former President Moi and his confidants failed to take the witness box to defend themselves from the accusations.

They instead chose to appoint lawyers to deny the allegations on their behalf.

Going by the evidence produced at the inquiry, the Goldenberg scandal has proved to be the most intriguing riddle in Kenya's history.

Many Kenyans are now anxiously waiting to see whether the Justice Samuel Bosire panel will be able unravel this massive financial mystery and bring to book those involved.