KNTC Officials Grilled by DCI Over Involvement in Multi-billion Edible Oil Scandal

A photo of Public Service Moses Kuria.
Cabinet Secretary in charge of Public Service Moses Kuria addressing the press
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Moses Kuria

Kenya National Trading Corporation (KNTC) senior managers were on Tuesday arrested and taken to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations headquarters on Kiambu Road for questioning over the multi-billion edible oil importation scandal.

According to reports, the managers were flanked by bank officials who were allegedly involved in the transaction as guarantors in the multi-billion scandal.

The DCI is seeking to unravel the circumstances under which well-connected government officials imported tonnes of edible oil, which led to a tiff with local manufacturers and alleged loss of public funds.

Once the detectives complete their investigations, the case will be forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) who will make the final recommendations on the case.

The Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture had raised questions over the duty-free importation which happened under the Ministry of Trade during Moses Kuria's stint as Trade Cabinet Secretary.

Kenya National Trading Corporation Managing Director Pamela Mutua (left) with Trade CS Moses Kuria during a past event.
Kenya National Trading Corporation Managing Director Pamela Mutua (left) with formerTrade CS Moses Kuria.
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Moses Kuria

At the time, CS Kuria, who has since been reassigned to the Ministry of Public Service, greenlighted the importation and came out all guns blazing when the media smelt foul play in the deal.

While confronting a local media house for publishing the story, CS Kuria insisted that the deal was designed to cushion Kenyans from local manufacturers whom he described as cartels.

“Until such a time when we will have a fully vertically integrated edible oils industry, the government will continue taking measured measures to protect consumers from powerful cartels that continue to fix high retail prices and raise the cost of living,'' CS Kuria stated.

Instructively, speculation was rife that companies contracted to supply edible oils by KNTC were owned by people close to government officials.

Documents shared with the National Assembly showed that the National Trading Corporation imported 125,000 metric tons of edible oil from single-sourced companies.

The Kenya National Trading Corporation procured edible oils worth Ksh 8.12 billion and Jerricans of the edible oil at Ksh 1.33 billion.

It is estimated that the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) lost Ksh 10 billion in tax revenues due to edible oils importation.

Cooking oil products on sale
A stock photo of bottled cooking oil on sale at a supermarket.
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istock
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