Kenyan fraud crackdown continues

Moi has launched a fight against curruption to clean up Kenya's image

NAIROBI, Kenya -- A former top Kenyan civil servant has been charged with diverting donor funds to a private bank account.

Mohamed Abdi Isahakia, who is alleged to have carried out the fraud while he was director-general of the National Museums of Kenya, appeared in court on Thursday.

Isahakia, permanent secretary at the environment department until November, spent almost 20 years at the national museums.

He ended up as director-general, before becoming permanent secretary at the environment department in 1999.

He was charged with stealing 11.4 million shillings ($145,000) between 1997 and 1999 before he joined the environment ministry, the court heard.

He denied the charges and was released on bail.

Isahakia, is the fourth senior civil servant brought to court by a police anti-corruption unit that President Daniel arap Moi's government set up in October.

Kenyan public officials are perceived as some of the world's most corrupt, according to watchdog Transparency International.

Moi has been under increasing pressure to tackle corruption from donors who suspended loans to Kenya in 2000, concerned that graft was thwarting attempts to revive the ailing economy.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said in December it had noted significant progress in the fight against corruption since the anti-corruption police unit was set up.

Last week, Moi appointed a new international team of anti-corruption experts, including several British advisers, to help find ways of rooting out fraud.