Kenya's finance minister, top officials arrested for graft: police

Published July 22, 2019
This file photo shows Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury (Finance Minister) Henry Rotich holding up a briefcase containing the Government Budget for the 2019/20 fiscal year in Nairobi, Kenya on June 13, 2019. — Reuters
This file photo shows Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury (Finance Minister) Henry Rotich holding up a briefcase containing the Government Budget for the 2019/20 fiscal year in Nairobi, Kenya on June 13, 2019. — Reuters

Kenya's Finance Minister Henry Rotich and other treasury officials were arrested on Monday on corruption and fraud charges related to a multi-million dollar project to build two massive dams, police said.

“They are in custody now awaiting to be taken to court,” police chief George Kinoti told AFP, adding the accused had presented themselves to the authorities after chief prosecutor Noordin Haji ordered their arrests.

The arrest marks the first time a sitting Kenyan minister has been arrested on corruption charges, in a country where graft is widespread.

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