Police arrest chiefs found 'stealing' relief food as accomplices escape

Baringo, Kenya: An assistant chief in Baringo Central has been arrested for allegedly stealing relief food meant to be distributed to hungry villagers.

Emanuel Tuitoek and his accomplices are said to have broken into the divisional relief food store in Salawa on Wednesday night and were in the process of carting away sacks of maize and cooking oil when Administration Police officers, who stay nearby, pounced on them.

Mr Tuitoek, the assistant chief of Salawa sub-location, was arrested with two cans of cooking oil while his accomplices escaped.

Area Deputy Commissioner Noah Tonui confirmed the incident and said the assistant chief was arrested by APs attached to area District Officer's office located near the store and was in possession of the stolen goods.

DRY SPELL

"It was reported that assistant chief Emanuel Tuitoek took a total of six litres of cooking oil from the store. He was  arrest him with the stolen goods and he is now in custody," Tonui told The Standard.

The national government, he said, had started distributing relief food in the semi-arid parts of the county as the dry spell persists.

Last year, Baringo North MP William Cheptumo warned of a looming food crisis following erratic rainfall during the last planting season.

On Thursday, the commissioner said the APs had recorded statements and the assistant chief be will be arraigned in court to face theft charges once investigations are complete.

"He is being held at Kabarnet Police Station as police hunt down his accomplices," said Tonui.

Tonui issued a stern warning to chiefs in the area to ensure transparency in the distribution of relief food, adding that anyone found diverting it will face legal action.