Official Resigns After Corruption Allegations

Kenya's finance minister resigned after allegations of his involvement in multimillion-dollar scandals that have shaken President Mwai Kibaki's administration.

Daudi Mwiraria, the first public official to resign because of corruption allegations since Kenya gained independence from Britain in 1963, said he was stepping down to clear his name. Kibaki accepted his resignation, Mwiraria said.

In July 2004, a parliamentary watchdog committee said Mwiraria should be held responsible for a deal involving sham companies that received government payments for security contracts.