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Kenya ex-graft chief returns home | |
(about 8 hours later) | |
Kenya's former anti-corruption chief John Githongo has returned to his homeland for a brief visit after three years of self-imposed exile. | |
Mr Githongo fled to the UK saying he feared for his life, after accusing senior members of the government of "massive looting". | |
He exposed a scam in which state contracts worth more than $1bn (£0.5bn) were secretly awarded to phantom firms. | |
He will address a public anti-graft forum in Nairobi on Wednesday. | |
Mr Githongo was appointed to oversee the fight against graft after President Mwai Kibaki came to power in 2002. | |
The BBC's Peter Greste in the capital, Nairobi, says Mr Githongo's return from exile is a sign of changing times in Kenya. | |
Kenyans will see his return as a sign that perhaps corruption can be beaten after all, he says. As the government's permanent secretary for ethics and governance, Mr Githongo published documents exposing the notorious Anglo-Leasing scandal, which forced the resignation of several ministers. | |
Corruption remains deeply embedded in the Kenyan government and public institutions. | Corruption remains deeply embedded in the Kenyan government and public institutions. |
In an interview before he left his home in the UK, Mr Githongo told the BBC that Kenya had changed significantly over the past few months. | |
He said this was a private visit to meet his family and re-connect with the people of Kenya. | |
Earlier this year, the government and the opposition formed a grand coalition after post-election violence threatened to tear the country apart. | Earlier this year, the government and the opposition formed a grand coalition after post-election violence threatened to tear the country apart. |
New Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka both asked Mr Githongo to return. | |