NAIROBI, (Reuters) – Kenya’s President Mwai Kibaki yesterday suspended Higher Education Minister William Ruto after high court judges ruled Ruto should stand trial over corruption allegations, the president’s press service (PPS) said.
Ruto, who spearheaded a “No” campaign against a new constitution in August, steps aside with immediate effect pending the conclusion of the court case, PPS said in an emailed statement.
Last week, the high court ruled Ruto should face charges over a scam in which a state firm was defrauded through the sale of forest land.
Ruto had moved to the high court to seek a restraining order against the Kenya Anti Corruption Commission, which filed a complaint against him for selling a piece of forest land just outside of the capital to the Kenya Pipeline Company for 96 million shillings ($1.19 million) nine years ago.
