The BBC has obtained evidence of a major corruption scandal in Kenya.
In his first interview since going into exile in
Britain, Kenya's former top anti-corruption official says he told his
president about the corruption.
But John Githongo, Kenya's former permanent secretary for ethics, says President Mwai Kibaki failed to act.
Mr Githongo has also given the BBC what he says is taped
evidence of a senior government minister trying to impede a corruption
inquiry.
Mr Githongo says he made the tape secretly during a meeting with the man who is now Kenya's energy minister.
Britain's International Development Secretary Hilary
Benn said the revelations marked a moment of truth for Kenya and called
for action.
'Go slow'
Mr Githongo says government money was being paid to
companies that did not exist or to others which were massively
overpricing their contracts.
The president faces tough decisions ahead of polls due next year
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He believed the finance was being given to business
figures close to the government, who were then re-directing some of it
back to the ruling elite for political campaigning.
In one case, he says, the country's then-Justice
Minister Kiraitu Murungi tried to pressure him by using the issue of a
loan owed by Mr Githongo's father.
On a tape heard by the BBC, a man Mr Githongo says is
the minister is heard telling him that the loan is owed to a
businessman with links to powerful politicians and that if he goes slow
on his investigation the businessman will also go slow.
"The minister of justice was telling me that if I eased
off my enquiries then my father's loan matter would be made to go
away," Mr Githongo said.
Mr Benn described Mr Githongo as a "very courageous" man.
"He has now brought forward very, very serious
allegations which have to be investigated... I think this is a moment
of truth for Kenya," Mr Benn said.
The British minister said corruption had been a problem
in Kenya for years but now John Githongo had "brought matters to a
head".
The eyes of the world would now be on the government to see how it reacted.
The politician involved, Kiraitu Murungi, would not be interviewed but denies wrongdoing. | 
