Mr Mwiraria succumbed to bone marrow cancer at the hospital on Thursday, a family source said.

Mr Mwiraria served as the Finance minister in President Mwai Kibaki's administration from January 2003 but resigned in 2006 following allegations that he was involved in the Anglo Leasing scandal.

Later in 2007, President Kibaki appointed him as minister for Environment.

Mwiraria failed to appear in court several times over the Anglo Leasing scam. His lawyer would later reveal that he was suffering from a hip replacement caused by cancer.

The ex-minister was charged with four counts of conspiracy to commit an economic crime and to defraud the government of Sh4.08 billion.