NAIROBI, Kenya - Kenya's Finance Minister Henry Rotich and other treasury officials were arrested Monday on corruption and fraud charges related to a multi-million dollar project to build two massive dams, police said.
The minister according to BBC, has surrendered himself to the police after the chief prosecutor ordered his arrest over allegations of corruption.
Henry Rotich is accused of flouting procurement procedures in awarding a contract worth over $450m (£405m) for the construction of two dams to the Italian company CMC de Ravenna.
In March Mr Rotich denied any wrongdoing in a large newspaper advert.
The company has also denied the accusations.
Director of public prosecutions Noordin Haji is also investigating how the tender was awarded for $170m more than was in the original contract.
“It was established that the conception, procurement and payment process for the dam projects were riddled with massive illegalities,” he said.
Earlier this year, local media reported that files from the investigation revealed purchases that didn't appear to make sense for a dam construction project, including at least $38,000 that had allegedly been spent on bedding.
However, Kenyan Police have confirmed their arrest, “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”.
*VOA, BBC