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National Treasury Chief Secretary Kamau Thugge, left, and National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Kiplagat Rotich, appear with other suspects accused of corruption at Nairobi's Mililani court on Tuesday, July 23, 2019. The Kenya's finance minister on Tuesday denied charges of fraud. on contracts for the construction of two dams in the west of the country. This is the first time that a Kenyan finance minister is accused in the performance of his duties. Henry Rotich and 14 other officials appeared in court after spending the night in police custody. (Khalil Senosi / Associated Press)
NAIROBI, Kenya – The Kenyan president has replaced the finance minister after being accused of fraud on multi-million dollar contracts for the construction of two dams in the west of the country.
This is the first time that a post of finance minister in East Africa's economic center, plagued by widespread corruption, is being prosecuted during his tenure. Henry Rotich denied the charges during a court appearance Tuesday.
The Kenyan government said on Wednesday that Labor Minister Ukur Yatani Kanacho would badume financial responsibilities on an interim basis.
The accusations allege that officials conspired to defraud the government in the dam project in Elgeyo Marakwet County, where no construction has begun despite billions of shillings spent.
Several other senior officials accused with Rotich have also been replaced.
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