Nairobi - Kenya's former anti-corruption chief John Githongo returned home to speak at a public forum Wednesday three years after fleeing the East African nation amid fears for his life.

Githongo said he received threats after his investigation found that state contracts worth over one billion dollars were being awarded to fake companies in an affair that became known as the Anglo Leasing scandal.

Several senior government members resigned as a consequence of the investigation.

Githongo was due to speak at a public anti-corruption forum on Wednesday afternoon and remain in the country for a short period before returning to the UK.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka invited Githongo to return.

Odinga was appointed earlier this year as part of a power-sharing deal designed to end violence that saw over 1,500 people killed following a disputed presidential election.

Corruption is rife in Kenya, but many ordinary citizens have high hopes that the new coalition government will finally tackle the problem.

With Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement and President Mwai Kibaki's Party of National Unity both in government, many believe that the rival parties will serve as each other's watchdog.

Finance Minister Amos Kimunya was forced to quit in early July following the allegedly corrupt sale of a state-owned luxury hotel to Libyan investors.

Githongo also believes that the country is moving forward. In an interview with Kenyan newspaper The Daily Nation, he said that Kenya had changed over the last few months. (dpa)