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Africa

US suspends aid to Kenya's health ministry over corruption

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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    FILE - In this Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017 file photo, a striking Kenyan doctor holds his stethoscope in the air as he and other medical staff protest the detention of their union leaders outside an appeal court in Nairobi, Kenya. The U.S. Embassy in Kenya said Tuesday, May 9, 2017 it has suspended approximately $21 million in assistance to Kenya's ministry of health because of concerns about corruption. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis, File) (The Associated Press)

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    FILE - In this Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017 file photo, doctors and other medical staff protest the detention of their union leaders, outside an appeal court in Nairobi, Kenya. The U.S. Embassy in Kenya said Tuesday, May 9, 2017 it has suspended approximately $21 million in assistance to Kenya's ministry of health because of concerns about corruption. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis, File) (The Associated Press)

NAIROBI, Kenya – The U.S. Embassy in Kenya says it has suspended approximately $21 million in assistance to Kenya's ministry of health because of concerns about corruption.

A statement from the embassy said Tuesday the step was taken due to reports of corruption and weak accounting procedures at the ministry. Late last year Kenya's security agencies started an investigation in the ministry over the alleged diversion of more than $50 million.

Kenya is ranked 145 out of 176 countries in Transparency International's index of the world's most corrupt countries. According to a government survey published last year, corruption permeates key government sectors in East Africa's largest economy. Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta held a special conference on corruption last year where he said he is frustrated by the problem.