NAIROBI (Reuters) - Kenya's finance minister said on Wednesday he would make an announcement shortly to clarify the status of the east African country's central bank governor, who is currently on trial for corruption.

Andrew Mullei was asked to step down from his position in March 2006 after he was charged with four counts of abuse of office. Deputy Governor Jacinta Mwatela has been the acting governor since Mullei's suspension.

Finance Minister Amos Kimunya said Mullei's formal contract was coming to an end.

"His contract expires this month...I will make an announcement very soon...by tomorrow," he told reporters.

Under Kenyan law, the central bank governor enjoys security of tenure and only President Mwai Kibaki can fire a sitting central bank governor if he is convicted of fraud on the recommendation of an investigative tribunal.

But the government can decide not to renew Mullei's contract and appoint a new governor.

Local analysts expect Mwatela to be given the job.

Mullei was accused of awarding lucrative consultancies to his son and three associates, and has been on trial since July 12. He has pleaded innocent.

He was the highest-ranking serving Kenyan official to be formally charged in a string of graft scandals that have rocked Kibaki's government and led to the resignations of three ministers.