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APA reports quoting â€œThe Voice of Americaâ€.

27 October 2010 23:05 (UTC +04:00)

Kenya FM Steps Aside in Property Scandal
Baku â€“ APA. Kenya’s foreign minister says he is stepping aside so investigators can examine a foreign property scandal involving his ministry,

Moses Wetangula told reporters Wednesday that he will temporarily leave his post to make room for the investigation. The foreign minister said he is innocent of any wrongdoing.

Earlier Wednesday, Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Thuita Mwangi also stepped aside because of the scandal.

Lawmakers are debating a report that says foreign ministry officials cost Kenya millions of dollars in questionable property deals involving the country’s embassies.

The report called for both officials to stand trial on corruption charges.

Kenya has been plagued by widespread corruption despite repeated government vows to deal with the problem.

Corruption watchdog Transparency International ranked Kenya 154th out of 180 countries in its 2010 corruption perceptions index, released Tuesday.

Last week, President Mwai Kibaki suspended his higher education minister, William Ruto, after the nation’s high court said Ruto should stand trial for fraud.