Maize chiefs sacked as food crisis drags on

The government on Monday waived duty on imported maize to deal with the near collapse of the grain’s marketing system and a shortage in the international market.

It comes amid reports that traders contracted by the government last month to import maize had met serious difficulties finding white maize in the world market.

At the same time, it shook up the top management of the State-owned marketing body and the biggest buyer of local maize — the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) — sacking five out of six directors, and 14 out of 17 top managers.

The move is meant to contain rampant corruption in the grain sector, and pave the way for free importation of maize.

But the managing director, Prof Gideon Misoi, will continue in his position. Also left untouched is the chairman, Mr Jimna Mbaru, who was appointed to the position by President Kibaki last Friday.

At the same time, Finance minister Uhuru Kenyatta lifted import duty on maize, allowing importers to buy maize from the international markets to feed a country in which 10 million people are at risk of starvation.

The move is likely aimed at ending the artificial shortage created by mismanagement of maize stocks by the board and politicians.

At the board, the Daily Nation has learnt that preliminary investigations show the country may have lost close to a Sh1 billion in irregular maize dealings involving officials at the board and politicians.

The country’s Strategic Grain Reserves that stocks up to four million bags of maize have dwindled. NCPB is required to store up to six million bags for emergencies.

While announcing the changes on Monday, Agriculture minister William Ruto said they would help bring “transparent, efficient and professional delivery” of the board’s duties in a liberalised market.

The minister did not say on what specific charges the 14 senior managers were found culpable, neither did he explain if Prof Misoi’s retention meant the investigation had cleared him.

But one source claimed that the MD’s contract, which runs up to next year, was being reviewed with a view to removing him too.

The new directors are Dr Adrian Wekulo Mukhebi, Mr Elias Barree Shill, Ms Rozaah Akinyi Buyu, Mr Mohamed Islam Ali and Mr Timothy Kipkorir Busienei. They replace Mr James Gitutho Njendu, Mrs Grace Wanjiku Maina, Mr Francis Wanyonyi, Mr Bernard Maingi Killu and Ms Beatrice King’ori.

Mr Ruto said that the government made the changes after receiving an audit report on the board’s operations and structure last Friday.

A consultancy firm was hired to study the structure, management and operations of the board and to prescribe any changes.