KACC summons MPs over maize scandal

MPs who wrote letters to the National Cereals and Produce Board requesting maize allocations have been summoned by the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission to assist investigations into the maize scandal.

In letters dated February 6, KACC asked at least 15 MPs who wrote notes to the statutory body recommending individuals and companies to be allocated maize to appear before it.

“We are in possession of your letter addressed to National Cereals and Produce Board requesting assistance in allocation of maize,” KACC said in a letter to Chepalungu MP Isaac Ruto who had requested 1,000 bags for starving residents of two divisions in the constituency.

The commission said in the letters signed by director Aaron Ringera that the MPs should come to its Integrity Centre offices in Nairobi.

Imenti Central MP Gitobu Imanyara, who got a similar letter, claimed the action was meant to intimidate MPs to vote for a Bill creating a special tribunal to try post-poll violence suspects.

On Tuesday, he appeared before KACC investigators for writing a letter seeking allocation of maize to schools in his constituency. Mr Imanyara wrote to NCPB on September 25, last year, saying schools in his constituency faced an acute shortage of maize.

“..... is a major supplier to the schools. Kindly assist her to purchase maize to supply schools and institutions in my constituency to avoid a crisis,” Mr Imanyara wrote.

A sideshow

Mr Imanyara accused senior government officials including Head of Public Service Francis Muthaura and Mr Justice Ringera of “joining the bandwagon of politicians allied to President Kibaki who were intimidating MPs to vote for the Bill on Thursday.”

Other MPs summoned include Manyatta MP Emilio Kathuri, who wrote a letter of introduction for a miller in his constituency. “All I did was write an introductory note to NCPB for a miller in my constituency as a service to my people,” he said.

Assistant minister Kilemi Mwiria, who described the summons as a sideshow that he hoped would not derail investigations into the scandal, said he was ready to face the law. He admitted that he had written letters to NCPB requesting maize allocations for some of his constituents.

Nyakach MP Pollyins Ochieng, also defended himself in Parliament. In his November letter to NCPB, Mr Ruto asked the board to provide 1,000 bags of maize to be shared out between two divisions in his constituency, saying the CDF would pay for the purchase.

He said the affected constituents were unable to afford the Sh3,000 for a bag at the time and asked the board to authorise its local depot “to liaise with the district development committee, Bomet CDF to transact...’’

He said that none of those he had written letters for had been allocated the maize. Mr Ochieng on the other hand accused a local TV station of tarnishing the names of MPs. He disowned two letters leaked to the media on Monday saying they had been forged.

Reported by Lucas Barasa, Mike Mwaniki, Caroline Wafula and Alphonce Shiundu