90 Suppliers Involved In NCPB Maize Scandal Cleared By EACC

The Ethics and Anti- Corruption Commission (EACC) cleared 90 suppliers out of the total 152. They were paid KSh2 billion for supplying maize to the National Cereals and Produce Board(NCPB).

The 90 were cleared after they proved to have made maize supplies to NCPB. The other 62 individuals suppliers were found to have issues which will be investigated further.

The Ministry of Agriculture had stopped payment of the suppliers after reports of irregularities hit the cereals board.

Suppliers had been paid 63-90% for the supplies they made amounting up to KSh 2.7 billion.

“Investigations are still going on and we have been advised by the EACC not to pay any of the persons of interest. We have complied with this. I’m equally frustrated and disappointed by the pace of investigations,” Agriculture CS, Mwangi Kiunjuri said.

The cleared suppliers will now be paid the remainder of the amount after getting a go- ahead from EACC.

On August 30, three senior Agricultural Ministry officials were charged in court over the irregular purchase of maize worth Sh5.6 billion by the Cereals Board.

PS Richard Lesiyampe, former NCPB managing director Andrew Terer and NCPB finance manager Cornel Kiprotich denied the charges and were released on KSh3 million bail.

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