Devolution Cabinet Secretary (CS), Mwangi Kiunjuri has been accused by an expatriate working for an international aid agency of soliciting a sh20 million bride in order to skew a legislation on civil society groups in NGO’s favour.

The complainant Delphine Bram Christopher has filed a petition at the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and wants Kiunjiri investigated for abuse of office and soliciting for bribes contrary to Chapter Six of the Constitution on Leadership and Integrity.

According to Christopher, the CS initially demanded for $300,000 (sh30 million) in order to effect a less punitive law – the Public Benefit Organization Act 2013.

He says that he met the CS through one Ms Wambui Kimathi, who was the link between Kiunjiri and the team from international NGOs and some from the donor community. Ms Wambui is said to have been Kiunjiri’s advisor and also the person who collected the first installment of sh10m out of the total sh20 million that was to be paid  following a compromise on the sh30m initially demanded.

The money was for operationalizing a less punitive law, the Public Benefit Organization Act 2013 . Part of the deal was that Mwangi kiunjiri would among other things, effect the Act, introduction of NGOs quarterly meetings with the CS, the formation of a committee, dominated by civil society groups with representation from government, by the Principal Secretary.

The NGOs also wanted the committee to be given veto powers and unfavorable decisions by the NGO board as well as oversight the functionalities of NGOs, in addition to resolving the work permit issue for foreigners revoked by the NGO board.

The CS went ahead to effect the changes and forwarded the Gazette Notice to the Attorney General for publication. The legislation was however challenged in court but Christopher accuses Kiunjiri of still demanding for the last installment of the bribe.