Kenya's foreign minister has stepped aside amid a growing scandal involving the alleged misuse of his ministry's funds for several land deals abroad. Moses Wetangula, who maintains his innocence, made his announcement as MPs were set to vote on his suspension.

A parliamentary report recommended his removal until claims over deals for new embassies were fully investigated. Mr Wetangula is a key cabinet figure and helped to form the coalition in 2008 that ended the post-poll violence. The scandal is the latest in a series of high-level corruption allegations involving government officials.