Kenyan President Kibaki names Saitoti as new Foreign Affairs minister

[News_Editor]

Kenyan President Kibaki names Saitoti as new Foreign Affairs minister

2010-10-29 00:04:09 GMT+7 (ICT)

NAIROBI, KENYA (BNO NEWS) -- Nigerian President Mwai Kibaki on Thursday named Internal Security minister George Saitoti as acting minister of Foreign Affairs after the resignation of former minister Wetangula due to corruption allegations.

According to The Nation newspaper, Saitoti will continue to handle his responsibilities as Internal Security minister in concurrence with his new post. The appointment was made one day after Wetangula's resignation.

"Following consultations with the Right Prime Minister Raila Odinga, His Excellency President Mwai Kibaki has today appointed George Saitoti as the acting Minister for Foreign Affairs. Saitoti will also continue serving in his current capacity of Minister for Internal Security and Provincial Administration," the Kenya President's office said.

On Wednesday, Wetangula and his permanent secretary resigned due to the scandal that involved the purchase of properties by the Kenyan government in Japan, Nigeria and Pakistan. Kenya lost millions of dollars in the purchase of properties abroad, including land and residences meant for ambassadors and diplomats.

The properties were reportedly bought at heavy inflated prices and part of the money intended for the deals ended in the hands of officials at the ministry. Wetangula is the latest Kenyan official to be involved in corruption related to land purchases.

Wetangula said that he will be back and that he was stepping aside to allow authorities to carry out their investigations. The former minister blamed the parliamentary committee for his situation, and labeled its report as "laced with malice, rumors, innuendo, conjecture and crafted in the most unprofessional character."

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