On December 29, 2023, former Kenyan tourism minister Najib Balala was charged in connection with a Ksh 8.5 billion (US$54 million) corruption scandal. The charges stem from his arrest on December 22, 2023, by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).
Balala is facing 10 charges, including abuse of power, irregular payment, and inflating the cost of a project. He is accused of using the Tourism Fund fraudulently to establish the Coast branch of Kenya Utalii College in Vipingo, Kilifi County, later named Ronald Ngala Utalii College, in 2010. The arrest follows investigations by the commission into the irregular payment of US$54 million from the Tourism Fund, with US$25 million allegedly paid to Baseline Architects Limited for consultancy services.
The EACC concluded its probe and submitted a report to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP). A total of 16 individuals will be charged in connection with this matter.
