Chinese charged over Kenya ‘railway scam’

Three Chinese nationals have been charged with attempting to bribe investigators working on an alleged ticketing scam in a massive Kenyan railway project.

Some $10,000 (£8,000) a day was being stolen in the scheme, local media say.

Officers were allegedly offered a $5,000 bribe, the prosecutor says.

The $3bn Chinese-funded and operated railway line is Kenya’s biggest infrastructure project since independence in 1963.

It has, however, been hit by scandals since it launched in May 2017.

The three Chinese nationals: Li Gen, head of transport, Li Xiaowu, security manager, and Sun Xin, staff member, work for China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC).

They were arrested on Friday as they attempted to bribe investigators, but it is unclear how long the alleged fraud had been going on. They deny the allegations.