Two Kenyan Ministers Resign Over Sleaze Claims

Two Kenyan ministers resigned yesterday over claims that they had looted millions of pounds from the treasury in two separate corruption scandals that have shaken the government of President Mwai Kibaki and angered foreign donors.

The energy minister, Kiraitu Murungi, quit after allegations that he plotted to steal government cash through a series of suspect contracts for police or military equipment, of which the best known is the "Anglo Leasing" affair, named after the bogus finance company involved.

He was also accused of putting pressure on John Githongo, the country’s former anti-corruption tsar, in an attempt to persuade him to back off.

The education minister, George Saitoti, also quit yesterday, over accusations of corruption dating back to the previous government of Daniel arap Moi.

Mr Saitoti, who was finance minister under Mr Moi, has been named in connection with the "Goldenberg" scandal, which involved the export of fictitious gold and diamonds in exchange for government subsidies. A judicial report on the Goldenberg scandal, which was presented to Mr Kibaki this month, urged the attorney-general to consider whether Mr Saitoti should face criminal charges.

The twin departures follow the resignation of the finance minister, David Mwiraria, two weeks ago in connection with the Anglo Leasing scandal.

President Kibaki said in a national broadcast that he had accepted the resignation of the two ministers to pave the way for investigations.

"I urge all Kenyans to exercise patience as the relevant arms of government carry out investigations into these issues," Mr Kibaki said.

The Kenyan president, a former finance minister and vice-president, swept to power three years ago promising to end the kleptocracy of the Moi years. He also vowed to address the country’s economic woes. But since the landslide election victory of his National Rainbow Coalition, he has been accused of allowing corruption to flourish as before.

The resignations came as pressure mounted on Mr Kibaki to respond to allegations of high-level sleaze made by Mr Githongo, who served as permanent secretary for governance and ethics until February 2005, but now lives in exile in Britain.

The president’s personal assistant, Alfred Getonga, who has also been implicated in the Anglo Leasing affair, appeared to be another casualty of the scandal yesterday; it was announced that his contract would not be renewed.