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.