The Ethics and Anti Corruption Commision (EACC) on Thursday arrested seven suspects in Eldoret town that have been linked to the maize scandal.
This is after the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Noordin Haji approved the arrest and prosecution of the suspects following the conclusion of the investigations that have been going on.
According to EACC North Rift regional Executive Director Jackson Mue, the seven are among 16 suspects the DPP approved to be prosecuted over the scandal where over Sh5 billion is suspected to have been irregularly paid to traders at the expense of genuine farmers.
Those arrested are Eldoret National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) silo manager Renson Korir, weighbridge clerk Virginia Wamaitha, records clerk Erick Talam, David Barng'etuny, an assistant chief in Soy constituency, Peter Chirchir who is an agricultural officer in Soy and a trader, Uasin Gishu county agriculture director Joseph Cheboi and a trader Paul Marus.
Three other suspects, Agriculture Principal Secretary Richard Lesiampe, NCPB general manager in charge of Finance Cornel Ng'elechey and former NCPB managing director Newton Terer were arrested in Nairobi.
"We're pursuing the remaining suspects so that they also face charges for their role in the maize scandal," said Mue.
NCPB has been under probe after revelations that traders were allowed to supply maize at the expense of genuine farmers.
The DPP in a press statement had said investigations revealed that NCPB officials, agricultural officers, chiefs and assistant chiefs colluded with traders to facilitate fraudulent payments to the detriment of vetted farmers.
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