This archive report was first published on 24 August 2020.
On August 24, 2020, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) summoned top Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) bosses to answer questions about the payment of millions in legal fees.
According to sources, farmers had sought the help of the DCI to unravel how hundreds of millions were spent to pay lawyers.
KTDA's lawyer, James Ochieng Oduol, responded to the summons by stating that 'Our client only answers to its shareholders and no other person.'
However, DCI George Kinoti warned that failure to comply with the summons would constitute an offence liable to prosecution.
KTDA officials, led by Chief Executive Officer Lerionka Tiampati, were asked to report to the DCI headquarters on Monday to assist detectives investigating a case of conspiracy to defraud.
As part of the investigation, the DCI boss requested that the KTDA officials submit an audit of its lawsuits and documents relating to its retained lawyers.
