Anti-corruption tsar Githongo calls for amnesty.

The one-time head of the Kenya anti-corruption commission John Githongo has called for an amnesty for high-level corruption suspects on condition of full confession and the voluntary surrender of stolen wealth. This, he says, is the most practical way of dealing with outstanding corruption cases and moving the country forward. The former anti-corruption tsar made the call on his return to Kenya in late August following three years of voluntary exile in Britain. Justice and constitutional affairs minister Martha Karua has since revealed that a new amnesty law is in the pipeline.

Githongo, a former journalist, was appointed by president Mwai Kibaki to head up the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission in 2003. However, he resigned from his post two years later following threats to his life in connection with his investigations into the Anglo-Leasing scandal, which broke in early 2004 over the awarding of state security contracts to a British firm.

Githongo has said he believes high-level corruption and the resulting mistrust of government by the population were a contributing factor in the post-election violence early this year.