This archive report was first published on 13 July 2019.
On August 30, 2018, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) arrested Agriculture PS Richard Lesiyampe and National Cereal and Produce Board finance manager Cornel Kiprotich Ng'elechey over the Sh6 billion maize scandal.
The investigation revealed that the officials, including the PS, had irregularly authorized the expenditure and failed to ensure that the purchase of maize was done in accordance with the law.
According to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji, the Managing Director of NCPB willfully failed to ensure that the procurement of maize was done in accordance with the law.
At least 15 other senior officials and prominent traders are being hunted by police, including former NCPB managing director Newton Terer and Uasin Gishu county director of Agriculture Joseph Cheboi.
The charges against the officials include wilful failure to comply with law relating to management of public property, unauthorized spending of public funds, conspiracy to defraud, abuse of office, neglect of official duty, and fraudulent acquisition of public funds.
