KENYA: A senior Kenyan minister has been barred from Britain in a sign that the East African country remains in the grip of a corruption crisis. Chris Murungaru Murungaru was security minister until February, when an outcry in local media over the allegations of high-level corruption forced President Mwai Kibaki to demote him in a cabinet reshuffle.
He is seen as a key ally of Mr Kibaki, who was elected in 2002 on an anti-corruption manifesto.
This week however the British High Commission sent an "airline alert" to major international carriers warning that Dr Murungaru's British visa had been revoked.
Mark Norton, a spokesman for the High Commission, said he could not comment on individual cases. He added however: "I can confirm that there is a provision in the United Kingdom immigration rules to refuse a visa to someone who is convicted or suspected of being involved in serious crime, including corruption."
Kenyan authorities are investigating a series of deals struck during Dr Murungaru's tenure as security minister.
Mwalimu Mati, deputy executive director Transparency International's Kenyan chapter, said he would welcome the move if it was based on evidence of corrupt practices.
Although it has the largest economy in East Africa, Kenya's roads are riddled with potholes and its public hospitals are desperately underfunded, the legacy of Daniel arap Moi's corrupt regime. He was replaced by President Kibaki, who immediately declared his intention to rid the country of sleaze.
This week's move however is the latest in a series of embarrassing setbacks.
Last July Sir Edward Clay, who was then British High Commissioner, launched a withering attack on the Kenyan government, accusing it of "arrogance, greed and perhaps a desperate sense of panic to lead them to eat like gluttons. They can hardly expect us not to care when their gluttony causes them to vomit all over our shoes."
He has also compiled a dossier of at least 20 shady deals - at least half relating to Dr Murungaru's old ministry.
Since then the Kenyan government's anti-corruption supremo, John Githongo, has resigned amid fears for his family's safety.