Today in History: Wetangula Steps Aside as Foreign Affairs Minister Amid Pressure

On October 27, 2010, Kenya’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Moses Wetangula, held a press conference and announced that he would step aside from his position following intense pressure from fellow parliamentarians and the public.

His decision to step down came just hours before a parliamentary vote on his suspension alongside his Permanent Secretary, Thuita Mwangi.

At the time, there was an investigation into Wetang’ula’s alleged involvement in the Kenyan Tokyo embassy scandal.

“I have made a personal decision to step aside from my responsibilities to give room to those who have been haunting and tormenting me for the last three or four weeks. I want to allow the competent arms of investigation to carry out their work,” Wetang’ula stated.

He maintained his innocence, asserting, “I am absolutely clear that I have played no role in the formulation, execution, or in any matter related to the transactions being discussed.”

He also argued that, as minister, he was not directly involved in procurement processes.

Wetangula Steps Aside as Foreign Affairs Minister

Wetang’ula further distanced himself from the issue, claiming he was being persecuted for actions that took place before his appointment.

He expressed disappointment that the media and the public perceived him as guilty, despite his innocence.

“I demonstrated to the house that I am being crucified for issues that occurred long before I was appointed. There are instances that transpired without considering the role of a minister.

The court of public opinion and the fourth estate have routinely suggested that the Minister of Foreign Affairs is culpable, even in the absence of facts,” Wetang’ula added.

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His resignation came after President Mwai Kibaki accepted the resignation of Wetang’ula’s permanent secretary, Thuita Mwangi.

Why The Foreign Affairs Minister Decided to Step Aside

Mwangi stated that he had chosen to step aside to allow competent government organs to conduct a full investigation without impediment into concerns raised by the parliamentary committee on defense and foreign relations.

The scandal emerged in 2010 when the Parliamentary Committee on Defense and Foreign Relations, led by then Eldas MP Adan Keynan, investigated transactions in which Wetang’ula and the permanent secretary were accused of authorizing payments for new embassies at inflated prices.

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Their report, released in October 2010, accused Wetang’ula of deliberately misleading the committee regarding the deals, particularly an overpriced land deal in Tokyo where Kenya allegedly lost over Ksh 1.1 billion (approximately $14.2 million).

Specific findings included:

1. The ministry ignored legal and expert advice regarding the suitability and cost of the Tokyo property.
2. Wetang’ula and Permanent Secretary Thuita Mwangi failed to ensure proper procurement processes, which resulted in significant financial losses.
3. The committee recommended that Wetang’ula and Mwangi step aside to allow for independent investigations and face potential prosecution.

By August 2011, Wetang’ula was cleared of wrongdoing by investigative bodies, including the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and other agencies, and he was reinstated as Foreign Affairs Minister.

However, his permanent secretary, Thuita Mwangi, along with other officials Allan Mburu and Anthony Muchiri, were charged in 2013 with abuse of office related to the Tokyo deal. They were acquitted on September 30, 2016.

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