Kenya ministers resign over corruption scandals News
Kenya ministers resign over corruption scandals

[JURIST] Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki [official profile] Monday accepted the resignations of Education Minister George Saitoti [CAD profile] and Energy Minister Kiraitu Murungi [official profile] in a televised announcement [text] in connection with their role in two separate corruption scandals which angered foreign donors and damaged Kibaki's government.

Saitoti is accused of playing a role in Kenya's largest corruption scheme, the billion dollar Goldenberg affair [BBC report]. A report by an independent committee pushed for the prime minister to consider filing criminal charges against Saitoti for his involvement. Kiraitu Murungi is accused of pressuring former anti-corruption tsar John Githongo to slow investigations surrounding his role in the Anglo-Leasing scandal [Wikipedia backgrounder]. President Kibaki urged Kenyans to be patient while the government thoroughly investigates the roles of the former ministers in the corruption schemes. Reuters has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Montgomery started racially-integrated bus service after boycott

On December 21, 1956, buses in Montgomery, Alabama, started racially integrated service following federal court rulings ending on-board segregation. Bus boycott leaders Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King and Rev. Ralph Abernathy were among the first riders under the new scheme. Learn about the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

Stalin born

On December 21, 1879, Joseph Stalin was born in Gori, Georgia. In 1922, he became leader of the USSR until his death in 1953. During his time as Soviet dictator, Stalin industrialized his country, which he then led to become one of the world's two superpowers after WWII. Through his infamous purges, show trials and nationwide famines, Stalin also became responsible for millions of deaths.