2009 Kenyan Maize Scandal
Encyclopedia
This is an on-going scandal in Kenya
that became public in January 2009, over the sale of imported maize
. In late 2008, the ban on importation of maize was lifted by the government to allow capable businessmen to import maize to supplement the local produce that was short of the minimum require to satisfy the local market. The scandal alleges that the following events might have taken place.
The following ministries and departments as have been implicated:
The Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission is currently investigating the scandal but is yet to make an official report on its findings..
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
that became public in January 2009, over the sale of imported maize
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
. In late 2008, the ban on importation of maize was lifted by the government to allow capable businessmen to import maize to supplement the local produce that was short of the minimum require to satisfy the local market. The scandal alleges that the following events might have taken place.
- Briefcase millerMillerA miller usually refers to a person who operates a mill, a machine to grind a cereal crop to make flour. Milling is among the oldest of human occupations. "Miller", "Milne" and other variants are common surnames, as are their equivalents in other languages around the world...
s, existing only on paper, some of whom were defunct at the time when the scandal unfolded, were awarded large quantities of maize by the Strategic Grain Reserve. They accomplished this by inflating their milling per-hour capacity and having 4 Permanent Secretaries approve them. - The briefcase millers and local businesses that were either awarded quotas by the SGR or awarded import permits by the NCPBK (National Cereals Produce Board of Kenya respectively might have also re-directed the bags of maize outside the country in order to avoid price controlsPrice controlsPrice controls are governmental impositions on the prices charged for goods and services in a market, usually intended to maintain the affordability of staple foods and goods, and to prevent price gouging during shortages, or, alternatively, to insure an income for providers of certain goods...
stated by the government and thus make bigger profits.. - Some of the maize imported in 2009 by local businesses was certified unfit for human consumption and might have been released into the market after directions of senior government officials.
The following ministries and departments as have been implicated:
- Ministry of Agriculture - The PS in this ministry was a signatory to the SGR quota allocations.
- Ministry of Special Programmes - The PS in this ministry was a signatory to the SGR quota allocations.
- Ministry of Finance & Treasury department - The PS in this ministry was a signatory to the SGR quota allocations.
- Ministry of the Prime Minister - The PS in this ministry was a signatory to the SGR quota allocations. The Office of the Prime Minister also gave instructions not to return the contaminated maize back to South Africa and was retained in Kenya to be destroyed..
The Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission is currently investigating the scandal but is yet to make an official report on its findings..