Ex-Tourism CS Najib Balala, and two others released on Sh1 million bail
Former Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala was arraigned in a Malindi law court facing corruption charges for allegedly abusing office while serving in the ministry.
Balala who appeared before Malindi Chief Magistrate Joseph Mwaniki was charged alongside his former Principal Secretary Leah Gwiyo and 82-year-old Joseph Odero and they all denied the charges.
The former CS and PS were released on Sh5 million bonds with a surety of a similar amount or Sh1 million cash bail after pleading not guilty.
Detectives from the anti-graft agency on Friday arrested Balala.
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The arrest follows allegations that the Tourism Fund fraudulently paid Sh8.5 billion to set up the Coast branch of Kenya Utalii College (later renamed Ronald Ngala Utalii College) when he was a CS.
The court also ordered Odero to be released on a Sh3 million bond with a surety of a similar amount or Sh800,000.
Balala and the two arrived at the Malindi law courts in Government vehicles and there was heavy security guarding the premises.
Despite the heavy Security, the former CS greeted family members before him together with the two accomplices, who were all ushered into the court building and to the courtroom.
Ex-Tourism CS Najib Balala, and two others released on Sh1 million bail
