Kenyan authorities have arrested Muhammad Abdallah Swazuri, the head of the agency that manages public land and Atanas Kariuki Maina, the boss of the state railway on suspicion of corruption over land allocation for the new $3-billion flagship Nairobi-Mombasa railway.

The line connecting the capital with East Africa’s main port was funded by China and is one of the biggest infrastructure projects of President Uhuru Kenyatta, whose government has embarked on an anti-corruption drive.

Swazuri, the chairman of National Land Commission and Maina, managing director of Kenya Railways Corporation, were two of the 14 officials, businesspeople and three companies named in a statement listing arrests that was posted on Saturday on the prosecutor’s office’s Twitter feed.

Public prosecutor Noordin Mohamed Haji ordered the arrests and said in the statement he was preparing to charge the officials.

Kenya last year inaugurated the more than $3 billion railway. No Chinese companies or individuals were named in the prosecutor’s statement.

Kenya has been hit this year by a spate of scandals related to the alleged theft of hundreds of millions of Kenyan shillings (millions of dollars) by officials from government bodies.

Haji, appointed by Kenyatta earlier this year, is bringing charges against dozens of state officials and businesspeople in a number of court cases that have not yet begun.

The Full List of Arrests

Prof Muhammad Swazuri, chairman, National Land Commission

Mr Tom Aziz Chavangi, secretary/CEO, NLC

Dr Salome Munubi, taxation and valuation director, NLC

Mr Francis Mugo, finance and administration director, NLC

Mr Atanas Kariuki Maina, CEO, Kenya Railways

Mr Victor Wahome Kariuki, land surveyor, Kenya Railways

Mr Elijah Mwenda Nyamu, assistant land surveyor, Kenya Railways

Mr John Mwangi Mwaniki, senior land surveyor, Lands ministry

Ms Caroline Kituyi, registrar of titles, Lands ministry

Mr Peter Ng’ang’a Mburu, registrar of titles, Lands ministry

Ms Gladys Mwikali Muyanga, principal lands registrar officer, Lands ministry

Mr Obadiah Mbugua Wainaina, private surveyor

Mr David Barno Some

Ms Esther Chebet Some alias Esther Fura Some

Dasahe Investments Limited

Keibukwo Investments Limited

Olemetit Estate Limited

(NAN)

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