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Minister resigns over Kenya hotel | |
(40 minutes later) | |
Kenyan Finance Minister Amos Kimunya is stepping down during an investigation into the controversial sale of a luxury Nairobi hotel. | |
Mr Kimunya said he had asked President Mwai Kibaki to allow him to step down "to facilitate this inquiry." | |
A government spokesman said the resignation was only a temporary move. | |
The controversy over the sale of the hotel has split the coalition cabinet formed to end weeks of violence after Kenya's presidential election. | |
Mr Kimunya is a close ally of President Kibaki. | |
He has denied reports that the hotel was sold to a local company with Libyan interests for a third of its value. | He has denied reports that the hotel was sold to a local company with Libyan interests for a third of its value. |
"As I stated before, my conscience is very clear, and I maintain the position that I am open to an independent inquiry into the sale of the Grand Regency Hotel," Mr Kimunya said at a press conference. | |
'Temporary' | |
"The finance minister has been in discussions already with the president over this," government spokesman Alfred Mutua said, according to Reuters news agency. | |
"But he will not be replaced, it's only a temporary move." | |
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. |
But Mr Kimunya had said he would only resign if Prime Minister Raila Odinga - Mr Kibaki's rival in December's presidential vote - also stepped down. | |
"I would rather die than resign," he said over the weekend. | |
The hotel was allegedly sold for about $45 million, instead of its recorded valued of $115 million. | |
Mr Kimunya implicated Mr Odinga and other officials who he says were privy to the sale of the hotel. | |
The prime minister has led investigations into the hotel sale. | |
In the past, donors have accused Mr Kibaki of failing to keep promises to tackle the rampant corruption in Kenya. |