Najib Balala, the former Kenyan tourism minister, has been arrested and brought to court on allegations of corruption. Balala and other former officials are accused of exaggerating the cost of a project aimed at constructing a tourism college.
In court, Najib Balala refuted the charge of abuse of office, specifically related to an irregular payment amounting to $21 million, as reported by the Nation newspaper. Notably, he is the first former minister to face arrest since President William Ruto took office last year, promising to tackle the long-standing issue of corruption in the country.
Having served as tourism minister for 12 years across three successive governments, Balala stepped down in 2022 as President Uhuru Kenyatta concluded his term. The court proceedings took place in the coastal town of Malindi, where Balala appeared alongside Leah Gwiyo, a former permanent secretary at the Ministry of Tourism. Both individuals denied the charges and were released on a cash bail of $6,400.
The accusations revolve around the use of private consultants in 2010, against cabinet advice, for the tourism college project in Kilifi County. The consultants are alleged to have artificially inflated the cost of their services. Other suspects connected to the case are anticipated to appear in court on December 28.