20110104
reuters

A Kenyan Industrialization Minister Henry Kosgey named as one of six suspects accused of organizing the 2007-08 post-election violence by the International Criminal Court has resigned from active duty over corruption allegations.

In his statement, he said he is stepping down to allow for the charges to be "fully investigated". He was questioned by the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission in November over the import of second-hand vehicles.

Kosgey's resignation comes a day after the attorney general gave the anti-corruption body permission to prosecute him for abuse of office.

Kosgey, who is the chairman of Prime Minister Raila Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement, faces eight charges of corruption.

Last month, the ICC prosecutor named Kosgey among six Kenyans he accused of being behind post-election violence which left 1,200 dead in 2007 poll.

His demise is the latest in a series of high-profile resignations over corruption charges, including those of another ICC suspect, William Ruto from the higher education ministry, and Moses Wetangula from the foreign ministry.