MPs want powerful names behind maize scam revealed

 Parliament is probing suspected fraud that has seen billions of shillings paid to a handful of traders who imported maize from Uganda and sold it to NCPB at the expense of local farmers. [File, Standard]

At least Sh3 billion in fraudulent payments have been flagged in an audit following complaints by farmers that influential traders had hijacked maize supplies to the national stores.

This includes Sh1.1 billion claimed by 18 traders who failed a vetting process but who have already been paid Sh768 million, according to a preliminary report by the Ministry of Agriculture.