PS Lesiyampe and Top NCPB Officials Arrested Over Sh6 Billion Maize Saga

The Director of Public Prosecutions, Noordin Haji on Thursday morning directed the arrest of Agriculture Principal Secretary Richard Lesiyampe and six other top officials from the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB).

The arrest orders follow the irregular buying of maize where the board spent a more than 11 billion shillings, which went way above the budgeted 6 billion shillings.

PS Lesiyampe and the Finance General Manager of the NCPB, Cornel Kiprotich Ng’elechey were retrieved from their houses this morning as detectives from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission are on the hunt for other officials ahead of their prosecution.

At least 15 other officials and traders are being sought including County Director of Agriculture Joseph Cheboi, the former Managing Director Newton Tereer, Accounts Clerk Caroline Kipchoge Cherono, NCBP Eldoret Silo Manager Kibet Korir, and Records Officer Eric Talam

The board is on the limelight over a total of 1.9 billion shillings it paid to 18 traders who made a huge supply of maize quantities. It is claimed that the traders colluded with top NCPB managers and had them amass millions in monthly payments.

Earlier in May, MD Newton Tereer resigned after the unlawful operations of the parastatal were questioned and the issue had since been under investigation.

After rigorous interrogation by EACC detectives, a report from the internal ministry was released and it brought to light the corruption going on at the NCPB and how cartels are stealing money at the expense of hardworking farmers.

The probe notes that majority of the payments were made in the Eldoret Depot but more investigations are still underway in other regions as well.

Those arrested will be charged for the unauthorized spending of public funds, abuse of office, neglect of the official duty conspiracy to defraud.