MP, ministry officials face trial over Sh1.8bn maize subsidy scam

Top Agriculture ministry officials led by Crops Principal Secretary Hamadi Boga and Lungalunga MP Khatib Mwashetani face prosecution over irregular payment of Sh1.8 billion to companies that imported maize during the 2017 drought.

The two are among at least five individuals that the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) wants charged.

Others likely to face prosecution are the head of Procurement, accountants at the ministry, Blackstone Investment and its director.

EACC said the money was withdrawn from the bank account of the Strategic Food Reserve Fund (SFR).

Then SFR chairman Noah Wekesa blew the whistle that Sh1.8 billion had been irregularly withdrawn and paid to the Commodity House without the board’s approval.

The payment was allegedly for clearance of a pending bill for grain imports during the 2017 maize subsidy programme.

The EACC now wants the Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji to approve its recommendation to charge Professor Boga and his co-accused with conspiracy to commit an offence of corruption and abuse of office.

In a report to Parliament, the EACC found that Mr Mwashetani is associated with Blackstone which was paid Sh792.5 million despite the company not having been invited to tender.

“Investigations further revealed that Blackstone Investment had not been invited to tender, yet it was contracted to supply maize contrary to the Public Procurement and Assets Disposal Act (PPDA),” Twalib Mbarak, the EACC chief executive said in the 2nd Quarterly report covering the period April 1 2020 to June 2020.

“Investigations also established that the Member of Parliament associated with Blackstone Investment Limited benefited from the proceeds paid to the company,” the report reads.

The EACC says the DPP is yet to respond to its report that was forwarded on June 19.