Kenyan Treasury CS Henry Rotich surrenders after orders of his arrest - report

Kenyan Treasury CS Henry Rotich has surrendered at the DCI Headquarters moments after the director of public prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji ordered for his arrest over Arror and Kimwarer dams scandal, according to local media reports.

The charges against Henry Rotich stem from a police investigation into the misuse of funds in a dam project overseen by the Italian construction company CMC Di Ravenna. Rotich denied any wrongdoing in a large newspaper advertisement in March. The company has also denied any wrongdoing.  Rotich and his co-accused reportedly face eight charges, ranging from conspiring to defraud and financial misconduct.

The minister along with some senior officials reportedly broke the law on public finance management under the guise of carrying out legitimate commercial transactions, colossal amounts were unjustifiably and illegally paid out through a well-choreographed scheme by government officers in collusion with private individuals and institutions. The two dams were budgeted to cost 46 billion shillings ($446 million), but the treasury borrowed far more. The national treasury negotiated a commercial facility increasing the amount to approximately 63 billion shillings - which is 17 billion more than necessary or required, payable on a timely basis without regard to performance or works.

The indictment of Rotich will send shockwaves through the political elite, who are accustomed to lurid graft scandals resulting in little official action.