Woman in Kisumu denies Ksh.102M NCPB fraud

A trader linked to the multi-million National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) maize scandal has pleaded not guilty before a Kisumu court.

Caroline Kipchumba denied two charges of conspiracy to commit economic crime and fraud.

She is accused of fraudulently obtaining Ksh.102,660,426 from the NCPB Kisumu silo through irregular supply of maize.

The public funds were intended to benefit registered and vetted farmers only.

The offence is alleged to have taken place between October 8, 2017 and March 20, 2018.

Kisumu Chief Magistrate Julius Ngarngar released the accused on a Ksh.5million bond and a surety of similar amount.

The 10 other suspects in the case appeared for the mention but the case did not proceed since the prosecution had not supplied the defence lawyers with relevant required documents.

The hearing of the case will now proceed in April this year.

The other suspects are also out on Ksh.5million bond each.