NAIROBI , Kenya ( CNN ) -- A book detailing a culture of corruption in Kenya is making booksellers and government officials uneasy , but for different reasons . The book details John Githongo 's fight to reveal the level of corruption in Kenya . The fear of reprisals is keeping sellers from stocking it , while top officials named in the book are threatening to sue for libel . The book , `` It 's Our Turn to Eat : The Story of a Kenyan Whistleblower , '' by Michela Wrong , focuses on John Githongo , whom the Kenyan government hired in 2003 to head an anti-graft unit . Githongo 's investigations detailed an intricate web of corruption , allegedly featuring top Kenyan politicians . The most noted scandal -- Anglo Leasing -- revealed fraudulent deals , in which a fictitious company was paid millions of dollars for contracts using government funds , Kenyan media reported . Githongo , a former journalist , resigned in 2005 and fled to England . Wrong , an old friend , initially offered him shelter there . Watch as book stirs controversy in Kenya » . The Kenyan government started a manhunt for him in the UK , Wrong said . A year later , Githongo released an explosive report detailing government fraud , which led to the resignation of some Kenyan politicians linked to the scandal . Attempts to reach Githongo through a spokesman were unsuccessful . The fact that there is corruption in the east African nation is not surprising . Bribery is so intertwined with the Kenyan culture , there is a code word for it . When someone offers a sly smile after a service and asks for `` chai , '' Swahili for tea , that 's a cue to slap a bill on his outstretched palm . The book 's story line goes beyond corruption , however . It gives intimate details about Githongo 's fight and an insider 's insight on how brazen corruption is in the upper echelon . It also humanizes Githongo , who -- despite being considered a traitor by some and a fearless anti-corruption advocate by others -- had remained a mysterious figure . The book 's unavailability has not kept Kenyans from reading it . `` There 's a stolen PDF [ computer ] file , which contains the manuscript , doing the rounds amongst the Kenyan reading groups and on mailing lists , '' Wrong said . `` The other way that people are getting it is , they 're basically buying it in Johannesburg or in Tanzania or in London ... and taking it in their luggage and then selling copies to friends . '' In addition Wrong pushed her publisher , Harper Collins , to release an e-book version of the book , and Kenyans are now able to download the book legally from the Internet . Wrong , a veteran Africa correspondent who has written books on Eritrea and the Democratic Republic of Congo , said some officials have threatened to sue her . `` They [ officials ] may lose more than they gain from that process , '' she said , adding that court testimony would offer the media a field day . A Kenya government spokesman called fears about selling the book unfounded . `` I am not aware that people are afraid of selling the book , because we have freedom of expression here and any book can be sold , '' Alfred Mutua said . `` A government in a free-market society does not control what people buy or sell . So if people do not want to sell books because of any litigation , that has nothing to do with us . '' Booksellers have a reason to worry , because the nation 's libel laws are designed to ensnare anyone involved with a product in question , according to Charles Otieno , a political analyst . `` Anything that is subject to libel , if you are found selling it , if you are found reading it or something like that , you are also actually the subject of the case , '' he said . `` So most people are not willing to take that risk . '' The reluctance of sellers to stock the book is heightened by a deep-rooted fear of the government , Otieno said , . `` Nobody is willing to question government to that extent . Not many people in civil society are really as proactive as they were , '' he added . For bookstore owners , the issue comes down to the possibility of lawsuits . `` There are lots of names mentioned , '' said Chand Bahal , a bookseller . `` You ca n't say , ' I am going to sell this book and make it big . ' ... You will be the scapegoat ; you will be in trouble . ''
Book on Kenyan corruption whistleblower not available in country 's stores . However , PDF copies and those purchased abroad are being taken in . It details John Githongo 's attempt to reveal scale of corruption in Kenya .