Henry Rotich arrest: Kenyan finance minister denies corruption fees

Kenya’s Finance Minister Henry Rotich has pleaded now not responsible in courtroom to fees of corruption, after spending the night time in police custody.

He’s accused of flouting procurement procedures in awarding a freelance value greater than $450m (£405m) for the development of 2 dams to an Italian company, CMC de Ravenna.

The corporate has denied any wrongdoing.

Mr Rotich is probably the most senior legit to be arrested since President Uhuru Kenyatta took place of work in 2013.

A courtroom within the capital, Nairobi, launched him on $130,00 bail and barred him from going to his place of work as a result of it’s “a criminal offense scene”.

Mr Kenyatta stated in April that officers charged with corruption will have to surrender, however Mr Rotich has now not but completed so.

Hypothesis is rising that the president intends to sack him, the BBC’s Ferdinand Omondi studies from Nairobi.

“Corruption is a most cancers this is consuming away the Kenyan soul and all of us agree that for us to be successful as a country we should unite in preventing it. That is why the president is main the corruption battle from the entrance,” Mr Kenyatta’s spokeswoman tweeted prior to Mr Rotich’s courtroom look.

Mr Kenyatta himself has now not but commented at the case.

Mr Rotich used to be charged with greater than 10 monetary crimes, together with fraud, abuse of place of work and receiving bribes.

He spoke back “now not true” when the costs had been learn out to him.

A complete of 15 officers charged along Mr Rotich additionally pleaded now not responsible.

An arrest warrant can be searched for suspects from the Italian company, the Director of Prison Investigations, George Kinoti, stated, AFP information company studies.

In a remark on Monday, CMC de Ravenna stated it had now not won any legit verbal exchange from the Kenyan government.

“CMC is bound of the correctness of the paintings of the corporate and its representatives, each in Italy and in another country,” Reuters information company quoted the remark as announcing.

‘Fearless battle’ in opposition to corruption

Through Ferdinand Omondi, BBC Africa, Nairobi

Kenya’s govt loses up to $5bn – or no less than part of its annual finances – to corruption, consistent with the auditor-general.

The president appointed a brand new director of public of prosecutions and head of felony investigations remaining 12 months to take on the issue.

The brand new appointees promised a fearless battle in opposition to corruption and feature to this point walked the controversy. From ministers to a Excellent Courtroom pass judgement on, those that had been as soon as considered untouchable had been charged with corruption.

Some had been dragged from the splendour in their palatial properties to spend nights at the chilly, exhausting flooring of police cells. Many Kenyans cheer when this occurs however they’re nonetheless looking forward to a large fish to be convicted.

There may be the strange pattern of public officers in Kenya keeping directly to their posts regardless of the seriousness of the allegations in opposition to them till they’re fired. Mr Rotich seems to be following that script.

The finance minister surrendered to police on Monday after the executive prosecutor, Noordin Haji, ordered his arrest.

Prosecutors say that officers at Kenya’s treasury borrowed $607m as an alternative of the $450m that used to be authorized for the 2 dams, intended for an hydroelectric plant and a water reservoir.

“It used to be established that the conception, procurement and cost procedure for the dam tasks had been riddled with huge illegalities,” Mr Haji informed the BBC.

Previous this 12 months, native media reported that recordsdata from the investigation published purchases that didn’t seem to make sense for a dam development undertaking, together with no less than $38,000 that had allegedly been spent on bedding.

Mr Haji informed the BBC that “the contracts that had been entered into and the loans that had been taken weren’t within the pursuits of Kenyans however had been serving different pursuits” and “the rustic has misplaced reasonably a bit of of cash”.

Greater than $200m has already been spent at the dam tasks, however the dams don’t but exist.