By ERASTUS MULWA
Politicians and civil society groups in Kangundo Constituency now want a thorough audit of relief supply and redistribution at the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) depot in Tala.
This follows last week’s incident where senior officials at the depot were caught red-handed by CID officers repackaging a huge consignment of cereals for sale.
There have been widespread claims of illegal sale of relief supplies meant for vulnerable groups in the past few years, with alleged involvement of high-ranking Government officers in the provincial administration.
Kangundo MP Johnstone Muthama and a host of local politicians have reacted angrily to the scandal, calling for legal action against those involved.
“It is both shameful and irresponsible for anyone to even imagine making money out of foodstuff meant for the needy in the community,” said Mr Muthama.
Collaboration
Mr Chris Kyalo, the leader of Youth Focus Communication and Information Network pointed to a possible partnership between officers working at the depot and those in provincial administration.
“It is unlikely for the officers working at the depot to single-handedly plan and implement such a huge rip-off from the depot without the nod of those responsible for the allocation of the relief supplies,” said Kyalo.
Last week, four people, among them the depot manager and store clerk, were accused of stealing relief supplies from the NCPB depot in Tala appeared before a Kangundo court where they denied the charges.
Reliable sources confided to The Standard that sale of relief supplies has been going on at the store. The foodstuff is reportedly dispatched for sale after being repackaged in plain sacks.
In an interview with The Standard, the NCPB regional manager in charge of Nairobi and Eastern region Naftali Sogomo said DCs are usually responsible for such supplies once the consignment arrives at the regional stores.
