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Kenyan minister in quit challenge Kenyan minister in quit challenge
(about 3 hours later)
Kenya's under-fire Finance Minister Amos Kimunya has said he would only resign over the sale of a luxury hotel if the prime minister does so too.Kenya's under-fire Finance Minister Amos Kimunya has said he would only resign over the sale of a luxury hotel if the prime minister does so too.
Correspondents say this challenge increases the strain on the power-sharing government formed to end weeks of election violence.Correspondents say this challenge increases the strain on the power-sharing government formed to end weeks of election violence.
Minister Charity Ngilu has said the president should dissolve the cabinet if he fails to act on Mr Kimunya.Minister Charity Ngilu has said the president should dissolve the cabinet if he fails to act on Mr Kimunya.
He denies reports that the hotel was sold off for a third of its value.He denies reports that the hotel was sold off for a third of its value.
Mr Kimunya is a close ally of President Mwai Kibaki, while Mrs Ngilu backs Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who claims he was cheated of victory in last December's election.Mr Kimunya is a close ally of President Mwai Kibaki, while Mrs Ngilu backs Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who claims he was cheated of victory in last December's election.
A government inquiry led by the attorney general last week recommended that Mr Kimunya be suspended.A government inquiry led by the attorney general last week recommended that Mr Kimunya be suspended.
Parliament also passed a vote of no-confidence in him.Parliament also passed a vote of no-confidence in him.
"I would rather die than resign, I want the president to get the best investigators to come and investigate me and if the report indicts me, I will not resign as a minister but also as an MP," Mr Kimunya told a rally in his Kipipiri constituency at the weekend."I would rather die than resign, I want the president to get the best investigators to come and investigate me and if the report indicts me, I will not resign as a minister but also as an MP," Mr Kimunya told a rally in his Kipipiri constituency at the weekend.
Mr Kimunya instead implicated Mr Odinga, other cabinet colleagues and senior government officials, whom he says were privy to the sale of the Grand Regency hotel.Mr Kimunya instead implicated Mr Odinga, other cabinet colleagues and senior government officials, whom he says were privy to the sale of the Grand Regency hotel.
Mrs Ngilu said the power-sharing government was not set up "to condone corruption".Mrs Ngilu said the power-sharing government was not set up "to condone corruption".
"If there are sacred cows among us, we should therefore divorce.""If there are sacred cows among us, we should therefore divorce."
Prime Minister Odinga has led the investigations into the hotel sale.Prime Minister Odinga has led the investigations into the hotel sale.
'Designed to deceive''Designed to deceive'
Last week, Mr Odinga set up a committee headed by Attorney General Amos Wako to investigate the sale, saying no-one - not even himself or the president - would be spared if there was evidence of fraud in the deal.Last week, Mr Odinga set up a committee headed by Attorney General Amos Wako to investigate the sale, saying no-one - not even himself or the president - would be spared if there was evidence of fraud in the deal.
Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga vows to 'deal effectively' with any corruption.Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga vows to 'deal effectively' with any corruption.
The committee also called for the Central Bank governor and the head of the National Security Intelligence Service to step down.The committee also called for the Central Bank governor and the head of the National Security Intelligence Service to step down.
They have also denied any wrong-doing.They have also denied any wrong-doing.
It said the sale of the hotel was ""false, fraudulent and designed to deceive", and should be revoked. It said the sale of the hotel was "false, fraudulent and designed to deceive", and should be revoked.
The hotel was allegedly sold for about $45 million instead of its recorded valued of $115 million.The hotel was allegedly sold for about $45 million instead of its recorded valued of $115 million.
Donors have in the past accused Mr Kibaki of failing to keep promises to tackle the rampant corruption in Kenya.Donors have in the past accused Mr Kibaki of failing to keep promises to tackle the rampant corruption in Kenya.
The Grand Regency was recovered from Kamlesh Pattni, the man behind the Goldenberg scandal, in which the government compensated him millions of dollars in a fake gold export scheme.The Grand Regency was recovered from Kamlesh Pattni, the man behind the Goldenberg scandal, in which the government compensated him millions of dollars in a fake gold export scheme.
He surrendered his interest in the hotel, he claims, in exchange for amnesty in connection with outstanding corruption charges against him.He surrendered his interest in the hotel, he claims, in exchange for amnesty in connection with outstanding corruption charges against him.