Kenya’s mayor of Nairobi has been arrested for questioning in connection with a scandal over the sale of land for a graveyard in the capital. Geoffrey Majiwa is the highest official to be arrested over the alleged scam.

Officials are accused of paying $3.6m (£2.4m) of taxpayers’ money for the land, which was worth only 10% as much and did not have a title-deed. Donors have long criticised Kenya’s government for failing to tackle corruption. A parliamentary inquiry implicated senior government officers, accusing them of over-valuing the land. So far, only 14 junior officials at Nairobi’s city council are facing charges.

But Mr Majiwa’s arrest comes two days after Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACC) head, Patrick Lumumba, said that having dealt with the "small fish", it was now time for the commission to turn its attention to the "big fish". The land had been earmarked to replace the Langata cemetery, which is full. But the rocky land purchased was not even suitable for use as a cemetery, the authorities said.