Najib Balala arrested

By Peter Ochieng

Former Cabinet Secretary (CS) Najib Balala. Balala served as CS for tourism during retired president Uhuru Kenyatta's time in office.

The former CS reportedly spent the night at Kilimani Police Station in Nairobi, after being picked up by Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) detectives.

Eric Ngumbi, EACC spokesman confirmed his arrest.

"We arrested him yesterday and he spent the night at Kilimani. He is being transported to Malindi. He will be charged before Malindi Courts," Ngumbi said.

He is expected to be charged over an irregular payment of Sh8.5 billion meant for the construction of Utalii College in Kilifi County.

“Investigations were undertaken by the commission regarding the irregular payment of Sh8.5 billion by the Tourism Fund out of which Sh4 billion was paid to Baseline Architects Ltd for consultancy services for the proposed Ronald Ngala Utalii College in Vipingo, Kilifi county,” Ngumbi said earlier.

The former CS is expected to be charged alongside three others.