Just as is the norm, Kenya’s biggest criminals have the privilege of being released on bond after stealing millions while the common mwananchi is forced to remain in police remand for petty crime.
The six suspects who were yesterday evening arrested by Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) detectives in connection with corruption at the National Cereals and Produce board have today been granted freedom.
The six were today released on police bonds of Ksh. 100,000 each after they were accused of alleged fraudulent acquisition of public funds in the maize scandal.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Noordin Haji said the probe established that NCPB officials, agricultural officers, and chiefs colluded with traders to facilitate delivery of maize to the depot.
“The supplies led to fraudulent payments to traders, much to the detriment of genuine farmers,” Haji said.
“As a result, two traders revealed to have supplied a total of 149,207 50kg bags of maize worth Ksh. 262,527,390. A Caroline Chepchumba was paid Ksh. 102,660,426 while a Stephen Maiyo was paid Ksh. 7,740,975,” he added.
The EACC officials in Kisumu on today said that they had freed the suspects for now as the the Anti-Corruption Court was not sitting on Tuesday. EACC Western Regional Manager Ignatius Wekesa said the six will now be charged on Thursday when the court resumes from the Jamhuri-Day break.
“The court was not sitting today and tomorrow is a holiday so we have freed them. They will be arraigned in court on Thursday,” he said.
The suspects are Mr Willy Kipkoech Kosgey (silo manager, Kisumu) Mr Renson Kibet Korir (silo manager, Eldoret) and Mr Thomas Kipkurgat Sang who is Soi Ward extension officer.
Others are Kisumu Deputy Silo Manager Jeremiah Omutsani Omwayi, Mr Laban Momanyi Michira (a cashier at the NCPB offices in Kisumu), Nr David Bargetuny Korir (an assistant chief of Sionim) and a trader, Mr Rodney Kimutai.
In a statement sent to newsrooms, EACC Chief Executive Officer Halakhe Waqo said the commission has been investigating allegations of fraudulent acquisition of public funds at the board.
The DPP gave consent of arrest and prosecution of the suspects in court with various offences, among them conspiracy to commit an offence of corruption and unlawful acquisition of public property. They are to face abuse of office charges and wilful failure to comply with the law relating to management of public funds.
Four other suspects namely: Mr Willy Kipkoech Rotich (an agricultural officer in Kisumu) and three traders Mrs Victoria Jebet Rotich, Caroline Chepchumba and Stephen Kiprop Maiyo are still being pursued by the EACC and have been directed to report to the nearest EACC office with immediate effect.
The arrests came in the wake of orders from President Uhuru Kenyatta to Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri to get to the bottom of the maize scandal at the board.
The six suspects from the NCPB join other big time criminals like those at Kenya Pipeline Company and NHIF who were also released on bail after stealing millions.
Do you believe that the farmers will get justice at the end of this maize scandal?