Kenya's President Mwai Kibaki has suspended eight senior officials over corruption allegations.

In a statement late on Saturday, Kibaki's office said he had suspended the eight officials for three months after they were "mentioned adversely" in inquiries into the work of a subsidised maize scheme and Kenya's free primary education programme.

"President Kibaki once again reaffirmed the government's commitment to fighting corruption and assured of speedy and conclusive investigations on use of public resources," it said.

Donors will welcome the action against senior figures, who include officials from the National Cereals and Produce Board and the permanent secretaries in the ministries of agriculture, education, special programmes and prime minister's office.
 

Reuters