BBC reports that Kenya’s Prime Minister Raila Odinga has suspended the ministers of agriculture and education for alleged involvement in two corruption scandals. There had been growing calls for ministers to resign after millions of dollars of public money were diverted.

However, President Kibaki has overruled the suspension of two ministers by the prime minister over graft allegations, saying there has not been any consultation on the matter, reports allAfrica.com.

Corruption seems to be a major part of the Kenya drug problem. In one recent case where 20 tonnes of hashish — the largest haul ever — were seized, the suspects were released for lack of evidence. Making his ruling, Mombasa Chief Magistrate, Justice Aggrey Muchelule, said the case had been “interfered with by the Mafia and riddled by police cover-up.” In another case, it was revealed that 600 acres of the Mount Kenya forest reserve had been cleared for a bhang (cannabis) plantation. Administration police and forest rangers were used to guard the plantation. (Africa Recovery, Vol.12#1 (August 1998)

Leave a Reply