NCPB employees, maize traders charged in maize scandal

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Eight more people among them farmers and civil servants have been charged before a Nairobi court with conspiracy to commit economic crimes in connection with the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) scandal.

The accused persons include Caroline Kipchoge, Renson Kibet Korir, Eric Kipketel Talam, Virginia Wamaitha Njoroge, Paul Kipyego Marus , Stephen Kiprop Maiyo, Peter Chirchir and David Barangetuny Korir.

Kibet silo manager NCPB, was charged with willful failure to comply with laws and applicable procedures and guidelines relating to the management of public funds.

The court heard that he willfully failed to execute the functions of his office by failing to ensure funds allocated for the maize purchased for the period 2017/2018 were prudently applied towards purchasing maize from only registered and vetted farmers in accordance with NCPB guidelines on grain intake operations leading to irregular payments of Sh 468,950,293.50 to Celestine Chepchirchir, Steven Kiprop Maiyo, Paul Kipyego Marus and Caroline Chepchumba.

He is accused of committing the offence between October 2017 and May 2018 at Eldoret depot.

Kibet was further charged with neglect of official duty by failing to put in place Prudent management, checks and controls to ensure that funds are allocated for the strategic food reserve maize purchase in the 2017/2018 period were prudently applied towards purchasing maize from the registered and vetted farmers.

He also faced four counts of abuse of office by using it to improperly confer a benefit of Sh 297 million to Caroline Chepchumba, Sh 24 million to Paul Kipyego Marus and Sh 146 million to Stephen Kiprop Maiyo who are maize traders by irregularly and improperly processing payments in respect to supply of maize to Eldoret depot while they were not a registered and vetted farmers.

Caroline Kipchoge, accountant clerk –North Rift Region (NCPB) was charged with willful failure to comply with laws and applicable procedures and guidelines relating to the management of public funds.

The court heard that on the same dates Kipchoge failed to ensure funds allocated for the maize purchase in the same period were prudently applied leading to irregular payment of Sh 468,950,293.50 to Chepchirchir, Maiyo, Marus and Chepchumba.

Talam, records clerk NCPB Eldoret depot is also accused of failing to comply with applicable procedure s in processing o credit purchase advice slips without the requisite supporting documents according to NCPB guidelines leading to irregular payment of the above amount to the named individuals.

He was also charged with neglect of official duty by failing to ensure that the credit purchase advice slips are supported with proper documents.

Wamaitha, weight bridge clerk NCPB was charged with abuse of office by altering weight Bridge tickets in favour of chepchirchir.

Peter Chirchir, assistant Agricultural officer Soy ward Uasin -Gishu County was charged with abuse of office and failing to comply with the Ministry of Agriculture and NCPB guidelines during the purchase of maize and signing vetting forms purporting to belong to Maiyo.

Barangetuny, assistant chief, Sinonim Sub location within Uasin Gishu County was charged with abuse of office by signing vetting forms belonging to Maiyo to facilitate supply of maize

Maiyo and Marus were charged with fraudulent acquisition of public property to wit Sh 146,690,842.30 and Sh24, 709,164 respectively through irregular supply of maize to NCPB being public funds intended to benefit registered and vetted farmers.

They all denied the charges before Anti- Corruption Senior Principal Magistrate Felix Kombo.

Yesterday, Agriculture Principal Secretary Richard Lesyampe, NCPB Managing Director Newton Teter and Finance Manager Cornel Koprotich were charged with irregular purchase of Maize worth Sh 5.6 billion.

They denied the charges and were released on a cash bail of Sh 3 million.

The defense lawyers including Edward Oonge, Josephine Mongare, Oringe Waswa, Alex Masika among others urged the court not to grant the accused persons similar bond terms as those given to the PS and his co-accused who were charged on 30th August 2018 in connection with the same offenses.

The Magistrate therefore granted Kipchoge, Kibet, Talam, Wamaitha, Chirchir and Barangetuny (civil servants) a bond of Sh 1 million or alterative cash bail of Sh 150,000.

Marus and Maiyo (maize traders) were granted a bond of Sh 5 million or a cash bail of Sh 2.5 million.

The civil servants were also directed not to access their previous offices unless with written authority from the responsible department and copy filed in court and with EACC.

They were also prohibited from contacting any of the witnesses unless with knowledge and permission of the investigating officer/ EACC.

Sermons were also issued to the five accused persons who are yet to appear in court.

The matter will be mentioned on 4th September 2018.