NCPB managers suspended in probe as govt picks acting CEO

Trucks loaded with maize outside the National Cereals Produce Board in Industrial Area, Nakuru. NCPB suspended buying of maize, leaving farmers without a market. FILE PHOTO | NMG

What you need to know:

  • Agriculture Principal Secretary Richard Lesiyampe announced the suspension of Lake, Western, North and South Rift regional managers over operations at the board.
  • The PS also said Albin Sang will replace Newton Terer as the board's chief executive in an acting capacity for three months.
  • The PS said a recent forensic audit has revealed laxity and operational negligence at NCPB.

The government has said 59 staff in five critical silos owned by the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) are being investigated for various malpractices.

Agriculture Principal Secretary Richard Lesiyampe Monday also announced the suspension of Lake, Western, North and South Rift regional managers over operations at the board.

The PS picked Albin Sang to replace Newton Terer as the board's chief executive in an acting capacity for three months.

Resignation

Mr Terer resigned from the board on Sunday.

The investigations will establish how subsidised fertiliser was diverted from the board and how unscrupulous traders filled depots with imported maize, contributing to a crisis that has left farmers unpaid, he said.

He cited reported cases of lack of delivery to farmers, inefficient distribution and penetration by cartels in collusion with some staff.

"You are also aware that procurement of maize by the board has been characterised by malpractices such as poor identification of genuine farmers and deliveries by merchants and brokers whose source of grain was not authenticated," Mr Lesiyampe said.

Laxity, negligence

The PS said a recent forensic audit has revealed laxity and operational negligence at NCPB.

In the malpractices reported at the board, 10,000 bags of subsidised fertiliser are said to have been repackaged by unscrupulous traders and sold to farmers at higher prices.

Mr Lesiyampe said some 3,200 farmers have been paid by the board and an additional 700 will receive payments by this week.

NCPB officials are concerned that some of their suppliers are traders and not farmers.