NAIROBI, (Reuters) – Kenyan Higher Education Minister William Ruto should stand trial over a scam in which a state firm was defrauded through the sale of forest land, high court judges ruled yesterday.
Ruto, who spearheaded a “No” campaign against a new constitution in August, is a possible presidential contender in the 2012 elections.
He had moved to the high court to seek a restraining order against the Kenya Anti Corruption Commission, which has filed a case 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.
He petitioned the court to strike out the case on grounds that his fundamental rights were being violated.
“We do not see any grounds to grant the orders sought and we therefore refer the matter to the trial court,” the three judges said in their ruling.
“There is no basis for the applicant to fear the trial since all the matter he had raised can be handled by the lower court.” The case will come up before a court later this month. Corruption is widespread in east Africa’s largest economy and citizens have been urging action against suspects.
