Ajabu Africa News

PHOTO:

British American Tobacco headquarters in London. Photo/FILE

By:

NANCY AGUTU

Posted:

Feb,09-2016 10:23:12

Nine US lawmakers have asked the Department of Justice to investigate British American Tobacco firm for allegedly bribing Kenyan officials.

In a letter dated February 3, they asked for an immediate probe saying BAT may have violated both the Anti-Bribery and Foreign Corrupt Practices Acts.

Congressman Lloyd Doggett said there were claims the company engaged in "corporate espionage" and the "sabotage of competitors" in Kenya.

"If true, these allegations would demonstrate a deplorable choice by BAT to balloon its profits through bribery at the expense of the health of millions,"The Guardianquoted Doggett as saying.

He noted that any corporation that enjoys the benefits of their stock exchange must comply with anti-bribery laws.

The lawmakers said documents retrieved following the bribery allegations said the offence may have been "more widespread than previously thought".

"The tobacco industry has a long history of placing profits above public health and these allegations raise clear questions about BAT," Senator Richard Blumenthal said.

Blumenthal said actions like BAT’s threaten to undermine the World Health Organization's global tobacco treaty as tobacco companies exploiting growth opportunities in Africa.

The treaty, if fully implemented in 2050, will help stop tobacco companies from influencing policy and protect more than 90 per cent of the world’s population.

The letter was signed by Senators Edward Markey (Massachusetts), Jeff Merkley (Oregon), Jack Reed (Rhode Island) and Richard Blumenthal (Connecticut).

Congressmen who signed included Niki Tsongas (Massachusetts), John Conyers (Michigan), Bill Keating (Massachusetts) and Jerome Nadler (New York).

A BAT spokesman told the Guardian the company would comply with any investigations brought up by the Department of Justice.

"We take the allegations of historic misconduct in East Africa extremely seriously and are working with our external legal counsel to fully investigate all these claims," the spokesman said.

In November 2015,BBCs Panorama programmereported that Moses Wetangula (Bungoma Senator) as Trade minister in 2012 was one of the MPs who allegedly received 'favours' from BAT.

Wetangula denied the allegations and moved to court to sue the media House. Thecase is ongoingbut the High Court ordered BBC not to publish stories linking Wetangula to the BAT scam.

Also mentioned in the BAT scam is Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua who was accused of receiving a £50,000 (Sh7.3 million today) bribe while campaigning for president in 2013.

TheIndependent reported that the allegations against Karua, who was then Justice minister, are in a BAT corruption dossier that a whistle blower submitted. Karuadenied the allegations.

Source:

The Star