World Bulletin / News Desk

The World Bank has banned two African subsidiaries of Oxford University Press (OUP) from doing business with it for three years over alleged corruption.

OUP's Kenyan and Tanzanian subsidiaries made improper payments to government officials, the World Bank said, reported on BBC.

UK-based OUP - the world's largest university publisher - said it was disciplining the staff involved.

The World Bank has severed links with several companies in Africa to curb rampant corruption, analysts say.

The alleged corruption involves the supply of school books in Kenya and Tanzania.

Fined

The ban against Oxford University Press East Africa Limited (OUPEA) and Oxford University Press Tanzania Limited (OUPT) would stay in force for three years, the World Bank said in a statement.

"The two companies made improper payments to government officials for two contracts to supply text books in relation to two World Bank-financed projects," it said.

OUP had agreed to pay a fine of $500,000 as part of a "negotiated resolution" of the issue, the World Bank added.