Kenya anti-corruption arrests former Tourism Minister

NAIROBI, Kenya

Najib Balala, who served as a Tourism Cabinet Secretary under President Uhuru Kenyatta's Cabinet has been arrested alongside other ex-officials from the ministry. 

Detectives from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) on Friday arrested Balala, Leah Gwiyo (Former PS, Tourism), Joseph Odero (Managing Partner, West Consult Engineers) and Flora Ngina (Former ICT Manager, Tourism Fund). 

The four suspects have been arrested over procurement fraud and irregular payment of Ksh.8.5 billion in the construction of the proposed Ronald Ngala Utalii College in Vipingo. 

The commission told Citizen Digital that 12 more suspects in the probe are yet to be arrested. 

"We direct the 12 to immediately report to EACC headquarters or the nearest EACC Regional Office," it stated. 

According to EACC spokesperson Eric Ngumbi, the suspects will be transferred to the anti-corruption court in Malindi for further action.