UNMASKING DR. TIROP KOSGEY FORMER MD NCPB -THE MAN WHO MADE THE FICTITIOUS PAYMENTS TO ERAD SUPPLIES

The two received Sh90 million out of the Sh. 297 million NCPB paid to Erad Supplies with questions now being asked as to why some unnamed beneficiaries of the bulk of the money are still at large

 Dr.Tirop Kosgey

The successful court conviction of two directors of Erad Supplies, John Waluke and Grace Wakhungu over the maize importation scandal at NCPB has stolen much of the limelight away from some faceless individuals who are said to have been paid Sh112 millions of NCPB money.

Details obtained from the court process and other reports compiled by the Parliamentary Investment Committee, provide a glimpse of who directly benefited in the heist that has led to the two, one of them an MP and another one being a sister to former vice president Moody Awori corruptly benefited from the illegal payments, the two have also been fined Sh. 1 Billion each.

MP John Waluke and Grace Wakhungu 

They received Sh90 million out of the Sh. 297 million NCPB paid to Erad Supplies with questions now being asked as to why some unnamed beneficiaries of the bulk of the money are still at large. The Weekly Vision has learnt that several reclusive players in the deal are in panic with the Asset Recovery team setting their eyes on properties owned by the faceless players who are however known to the investigators. They include bankers, lawyers, a serving governor and former top officials of the NCPB.

The weekly vision has also learnt that among the notable names whose accounts and properties are on the radar of investigators, include lawyer Joshua Nyawara who could lose his Hatheru Court home in Lovington, Nancy Baraza could lose her Kitusuru home while former managing director of NCPB, now a university Don, Dr Tirop Kosgey whose home in Westlands and Uasin Gishu home and farm are targeted.

The two lawyers were in involved in the arbitration process with Mr Nyawara appearing for NCPB under the instructions and patronage of Mr Tirop while Ms Baraza received Sh5 million for her legal fees. The court was told that when Erad Supplies won the controversial tender, it had already identified Ropack International as their supplier but the then NCPB Managing Director, Tirop Kosgey, asked them to purchase maize from Louis Dreyfus, the Swiss commodities supplier, saying that “a powerful person had imported the maize, which was in high seas and was looking for any tenderers to buy the maize”.

Keen observers are now squarely focusing on Mr Tirop Kosgey as he seems to know the powerful person in questions and are interested in his previous dealings with the Swiss commodity supplier. The evidence points towards his direction as the mastermind of the heist, according to a Public Investment report domiciled in parliament.

Besides the money received by the late Jacob Juma, Mr Waluke told the court that Nairobi lawyer Ahmednasir Abdalla “ought to have been charged for the money he received”. it is the fate of Sh112 million that is raising queries since EACC has not been keen on that. A public investment committee, PIC, report had recommended that as a former NCPB Managing Director, Tirop Kosgey be probed for abuse of office, want of due diligence and disobedience of statutory duty. It further recommended that the former legal counsel and Corporations Secretary Patrick Karanja be investigated for abuse of office.

The PIC also delved into the dealings of the trustees of the Strategic Grain Reserves (SGR) Mr Mahboub Mohamed and James Ongwae, now Kisii Governor and recommended for their investigation for breach of a sacrosanct duty of care owing to their positions as trustees. The findings have brought to the fore the questionable corrupt activities that took place between the two, the role of JSC officials, the arbitrator and banks.