226 fake maize farmers unearthed in NCPB scandal

226 fake maize farmers unearthed in NCPB scandal

An audit into the alleged multi-billion-shilling maize scandal at the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) has unearthed over 200 ghost farmers.

The government has now called in the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to find those who tried to swindle Kenyans by making fraudulent claims for payment for non-existent maize.

“226 are questionable, we have asked the DCI and EACC to investigate with the possibility of prosecution,” said Devolution CS Eugene Wamalwa.

The government also announced that genuine maize farmers owed over Ksh.1.5 billion will start receiving their payment on Monday October 1, 2018.

“On Monday, 900 farmers will be paid. The genuine farmers will be paid first, and the rest later,” said CS Wamalwa.

What was to be a simple payment for maize deliveries is once again turning into a corruption investigation.

It is a scandal that has been running for nearly the entire year, culminating first in the sacking of top NCPB managers in May.

This was followed by the dramatic arrest and arraignment of Agriculture PS Dr Richard Lesiyampe and 8 NCPB bosses at the end of August this year.

The verification began after it emerged that brokers edged out maize farmers and were paid up to Ksh.1.9billion by the cereals Board.

Genuine farmers were left either waiting for months for their payments, or had their maize rejected by the NCPB in favour of cartels importing the produce from Uganda.

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