KENYA:A Kenyan government report into the secretive sale of a luxury Nairobi hotel has recommended that the finance minister and central bank governor step down to allow a full investigation into the "fraudulent" transaction.
The report, from a five-member team led by attorney general Amos Wako, followed a no-confidence vote by Kenya's parliament against finance minister Amos Kimunya. Anti-graft watchdogs and some ministers have sharply criticised the no-bid sale of the Grand Regency to a group of investors, including Kenyans and Libyans, as the latest example of high-level corruption in east Africa's largest economy.
The dispute has also deepened tensions in factions of Kenya's already fragile coalition government, trying to keep the peace after a bloody post-election dispute earlier this year.
The prime minister, Raila Odinga, said he had no indication if Mr Kimunya was on the verge of resigning: "He remains minister until otherwise announced." He added, however, that the government would deal "very, very effectively" with any cases of misuse of public funds. "Any kind of breach is not going to be tolerated."
Mr Kimunya, who said the hotel went for 2.9 billion shillings (€28 million) last week, told parliament on Wednesday "my hands are totally clean". But political critics say the government asset was sold in secret at a knockdown price. Some analysts say that the price was fair and in fact may have been higher than average. - (Reuters)