A section of farmers in Eldoret town has welcomed a decision by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) to arrest and prosecute individuals linked to the maize scandal.
The DPP on Thursday ordered that Agriculture Principal Secretary Richard Lesiampe and former National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) Managing Director Newton Terer among other top NCPB officials be arrested and charged.
Speaking in Eldoret town, Uasin Gishu Kenya Farmers Association (KFA) director Kipkorir Menjo said the arrests and prosecution of the suspects will enable farmers to know what led to delays in their pay.
“As farmers, we support the DPP move since we have suffered at the expense of some people stealing our money. We want Lesiyampe to clearly tell us the people who were paid and those who supplied the maize illegally,” said Menjo.
“We want no stone left unturned, everyone who was involved in the maize scam leading to farmers staying for over a year without pay must be arrested and charged,” he added.
NCPB has been under investigations over the maize scam in which it is suspected over Sh1.9 billion was lost after traders were allowed to deliver maize at the cereals board at the expense of genuine farmers.
Other ndividuals the DPP has given a green light to face prosecution over the scandal include NCPB General Manager, Finance Cornel Kiprotich Ng’elechey and Accounts Clerk Caroline Kipchoge Cherono as well as three top Eldoret NCPB officials.
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