West Pokot County officials detained over Ksh.90M maize scam

West Pokot County Secretary Dr. Mike Kiptoo Perkilea and four others have been detained until July 15, 2019 when the court is expected to make a ruling on whether to grant them bail.

Dr. Kiptoo was arrested on Monday morning alongside; Titus Toroitich Mayech (Finance officer), Elvis Mwanga (ICT), Alice Chepkosgei (Procurement Officer) and Joseph Lolemtum (Evaluation Committee member) over alleged irregular purchase of 20,000 bags of maize last year.

Appearing before Eldoret Senior Chief Magistrate Charles Obulutsa, the accused faced graft charges for inflating maize prices in the region in a scandal worth Ksh.90 million.

They were charged with 18 counts for allegedly failing to comply with tendering laws, delivery of dry maize in absence of a list of pre-qualified suppliers among other malpractices.

The accused, through Lawyer Peter Wanyama, asked the court to grant them bail arguing that they would not interfere with witnesses and were not flight risk either.

However, the magistrate ordered the four to remain in custody pending the bail ruling on Monday.