Uhuru Can't Declare His Mother's Wealth - MP Defends President over Offshore Accounts

Tongaren Member of Parliament Dr Eseli SImiyu has defended President Uhuru Kenyatta over a recent report that revealed the Kenyatta family has over Ksh3 Billion in offshore accounts.

Speaking during an interview on Wednesday morning, Dr Simiyu argued that President Kenyatta is not at liberty to disclose the wealth since it is not entirely his.

Dr Simiyu further noted that persons whose named featured on the report including former First Lady Mama Ngina Kenyatta are not State Officers, therefore, thy are not bound by law to declare property or money they have abroad.

“How would Uhuru declare the wealth yet that wealth belongs to his mother who is not a state officer?" Simiyu posed.

Tongaren MP Eseli Simiyu. [Photo: Courtesy]

Over the weekend, leaked financial documents identified as Pandora Papers emerged online showing financial transactions of several world leaders.

According to a report by BBC, President Kenyatta and six members of his family secretly own a network of offshore companies. The Kenyatta family has been linked to 11 firms; one of which has assets valued at over $30m which translates to Kshs3.3 billion.

The BBC further reports that a foundation named Varies was set up by the Kenyatta family in 2003. Mama Ngina Kenyatta is reportedly the first benefactor while President Kenyatta is the second beneficiary.

According to The Guardian, the assets accumulated by the Kenyatta family include property in London.

The Pandora papers elicited massive debate in the country with a section of leaders calling on the president to invest the money locally.