Former administrator, stores clerk arrested over theft of relief food in Garissa

A former Garissa deputy sub-county commissioner Dominic Musyoka Kyenza and government stores clerk Abdullahi Sharif Ahmed have been arrested over the alleged theft of relief food.

Speaking to journalists at his Garissa office, regional head of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) Mr Abraham Kemboi said Mr Kyenza was arrested shortly after surrendering himself to EACC offices in Machakos on Tuesday morning, while Ahmed was arrested from his home in Garissa town on Monday evening.

He said Mr Kyenza was driven by EACC detectives from Machakos to Garissa where he will appear in court Wednesday to answer to the charges of stealing relief food.

The EACC regional boss said the suspect had been elusive and had been on the run since he got wind of his pending arrest but later presented himself to detectives.

He told reporters that investigations had confirmed the existence of a cartel led by Mr Kyenza and the stores clerk involving the filing of fictitious names of ‘needy organisations’ who would get relief food.

“These two suspects were involved in the sale of government relief food meant for the needy and vulnerable people in Garissa Sub-County.

"Our investigations have revealed that they would create fake names which would be presented before the sub-county relief food committee chaired by the deputy county commissioner himself,” Said Mr Kemboi.

USED KNOWN BUSINESSMEN

He said some known businessmen were fronted as supposedly representing the listed ‘needy organisations’ and were then issued with permits to collect to collect government relief food from NCPB stores.

“The businessmen, after collecting and repackaging the relief foods in order to conceal government identity, offer the said foodstuffs for sale in various markets within Garissa Sub-County,” he added.

Mr Kemboi said the Director of Public Prosecutions had consented to the recommendation to charge the two suspects with fraudulent acquisition of government foodstuffs and deceiving the Ministry of Devolution by filing false returns on relief food distributions.

“The theft of relief food is a serious concern to the government especially in the northern part of the country.

“Majority of the people living in the region are vulnerable to hunger and starvation because of the harsh climatic conditions,” he said.