Missing funds sparks protest

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP):

Revelations that $45 million meant to pay for elementary students' education was stolen is turning into political poison in Kenya, where activists yesterday locked themselves in the education minister's offices to demand his arrest.

The UK, a major donor to Kenya, told the government that the portion of stolen funds that Britain donated must be repaid. Britain said on Monday it would not give the Kenyan government any more money until there is "convincing evidence" of substantial improvements in the government's integrity and financial management.

Kenyan leaders so far have passed the blame, despite calls for officials at the Ministry of Education to resign. The department's minister, Sam Ongeri, told Parliament last week that he is not to be blamed because he was not in office when the thefts began in 2005. Ongeri said he came to office in 2008 and helped in detecting the fraud.

"My conscience is free and clear, because I have done my duty to the best of my ability," he told Parliament.

President Mwai Kibaki received praise from around the world when he implemented the Free Primary School Education Programme in 2003, a top election pledge. The programme enrolled more than one million children who had never sat in a classroom.