January 14, 2009
Kenya government launches probe into illegal corn trading claim
The Kenyan government has launched an investigation into allegations that officials in the Agriculture Ministry have been involved in illegal corn trading, the BBC reports on its Web site Tuesday (January 13).
Kenyan Justice Minister Martha Karua said the officials have created a corn shortage by dealing with traders who sell corn outside the country, inflating prices for Kenyan millers.
Agriculture Minister William Ruto has rejected the allegation, telling the BBC's Network Africa program the reasons for food being in short supply were soaring fertiliser costs and last year's post-election violence.
President Mwai Kibaki's administration said it was taking the justice minister's allegations very seriously, and that Kenya's Anti-Corruption Commission would now establish the truth, the BBC reports.
