Kenya’s corruption watchdog said Mayor Geophrey Majiwa would face questions over his role in the fraudulent 283 million shillings ($3.5 million) land deal.
More than 10 local government, treasury and city hall officials have so far been accused of colluding with brokers to inflate the price of 50 hectares of land meant for use as a graveyard.
The push against graft appears to have gathered momentum over the past week in east Africa’s biggest economy, where analysts say corruption has tarnished the country’s image and stifled economic growth.
President Mwai Kibaki suspended Higher Education Minister William Ruto last week after high court judges ruled Ruto should stand trial for fraud over a land deal.
Ruto, who denies wrongdoing, is also due to appear in court on Tuesday.
A study published earlier this month by Transparency International-Kenya showed that 97 percent of Kenyans view corruption as a big problem in a country that has so far failed to jail senior public officials for graft.
Kenya’s anti-graft chief last week vowed to go after the “big fish” behind major corruption scandals, citing new powers granted to his office to prosecute such cases by Kenya’s new constitution.
Sleaze has spread from politicians to civil servants, private business and ordinary Kenyans, who must part with small sums of money for favors, especially in government offices.
