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| Former PS Richard Lesiampe (left) and DPP Noordin Haji |
A firm
closely linked to a sitting Member of Parliament from Samburu County, Milet
Company Ltd was early this year 2018, purportedly paid millions of shillings
for having supplied nonexistent bags of beans to a government agency. The
company purportedly supplied (43) 90kg bags of beans vide local purchase order
No. 139099 to The State Department of Agriculture at a staggering cost of Ksh.
345,950 a bag.
The whole consignment cost the agency Ksh. 15,047,850.00. The
most commonly used variety of beans in Kenya retails at not more than Ksh.7,
000 per 90kg bag.The delivery
is purported to have been made on the 9th March 2018 using delivery note No.
066; however sources within the stores department have no knowledge of the said
delivery.
Moments after the purported delivery was made, pressure was mounted
by the then agriculture Principal secretary Mr. Richard Lesiampe to the
accounts department for the payment to be made.
The PS is
currently in court after the Director of Public Prosecution ordered that he and
six others be prosecuted over another scandal involving the supply of maize to
the National Cereals and Produce Board. Investigations revealed that the
National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) spent Ksh.11, 365,879,918, an excess
from the Ksh.6billion that was budgeted for, the DPP said in a statement.
“The PS
irregularly authorized the expenditure and failed to ensure that the purchase
was done in accordance with the law,” the statement reads, adding that this was
contrary to the policy guidelines issued by the Ministry of Agriculture.
The payment
was then made to the account of Millet Company Ltd held at Equity bank
parliament branch. The Weekly Vision
investigations reveal that the account is operated by a Member of Parliament
and her son.
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