Kenya prosecutor says no crime found in use of eurobond funds

NAIROBI (Reuters) - The Kenyan prosecutor's office said on Tuesday it had found no evidence that proceeds of 250 billion shillings ($2.48 billion) raised from a eurobond had been stolen or misused and will not pursue criminal charges against any government officials. In January, Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko ordered the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to probe the use of the funds after opposition leader Raila Odinga said the government could not account for 140 billion shillings from the sovereign bond. [nL8N13R0TZ] "Upon independent review...I have found no evidence to support the allegation about the alleged misappropriation of 250 billion shillings or any part thereof," Tobiko said in a statement. "Further, I have found no evidence disclosing any criminality of any government officials. In the premises and, as matters stand now, there is no evidence upon which a prosecution may ensue." However, Tobiko said the office of the Auditor General ought to carry out a special audit to ascertain that the ministries and other government agencies that received the eurobond's proceeds had put it to proper use. Corruption has been a big hurdle to doing business in Kenya though the government has taken more than 300 graft cases to court, part of a crackdown on the scourge by President Uhuru Kenyatta. (Reporting by George Obulutsa; Editing by Mark Heinrich)