Kenya’s embattled finance minister said on Tuesday that he would “step aside” to allow an independent inquiry into the controversial sale of a luxury hotel that has fractured the coalition government.

The move by Amos Kimunya (pictured), finance minister since 2006, made him the first casualty of duelling between the two sides of the fragile coalition, which was formed in February to end the post-election crisis that left more than 1,000 dead.