20101025
africanews

The mayor of Nairobi Geoffrey Majiwa was arrested on Monday by anti-corruption agents over a US$3.5 million [Sh283 million] cemetery scandal.

Officials from the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (Kacc) accompanied by police officers picked up Majiwa from his house in Nairobi for questioning.

The Kacc spokesman Nicholas Simani confirmed the arrest, adding that mayor Majiwa is likely to be arraigned in court on Tuesday.

The mayor will face two corruption-related charges over the controversial purchase of a piece of land for use as a cemetery. Simani said Kacc investigators recorded a statement from the mayor soon after his arrest.

“Our officers have picked him up. He is on the way here (Kacc headquarter) for questioning,” said Simani.

The scandal in which city council officials are accused of colluding to overvalue the 120-acre Mavoko cemetery land by over Sh258 million broke early this year.

The land was valued at US$280, 000 [Sh24million] but the tender committee put it at Sh283 million. The land had been earmarked to replace the Langata cemetery which is full.

So far, 14 people, among them former Local Government permanent secretary Sammy Kirui and former Nairobi Town Clerk John Gakuo have been charged with scandal but denied the offence.

According to the charge sheet, Kirui and 13 others acquired Sh283 million from the Local Government Ministry on diverse dates between December 2008 and April 2009.

It is alleged that they claimed the money was the purchase price payable by City Hall for a piece of land to be used as a cemetery.