Six people have been arrested in Marsabit County after security officers recovered government relief food suspected to have been diverted from intended beneficiaries.
The arrest followed a tip-off from members of the public over suspicious activities at a homestead in Majengo area, Saku Constituency.
Marsabit County Commissioner, Stanley Kamande, confirmed the arrests, saying police recovered 74 bags of rice and 10 of beans, each weighing 50 kilograms and bearing Kenya Government relief food markings.
The food was reportedly stored in a building near the main house at the homestead. Authorities also impounded a white Isuzu truck, registration number KCF 123R, which was found at the compound carrying part of the recovered food.
Officers from the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) secured evidence at the scene before transporting the food and the truck to Marsabit Police Station. Investigations said documents examined indicate that the food had been supplied for distribution in Kachacha Location, Sagante /Jaldessa Sub County in Marsabit County.
The six suspects are being held at Marsabit Police Station as investigations continue. DCI officers from Saku sub-county have launched investigations to establish how the relief food ended up at a private residence.
The arrest came shortly after the county led by the county Commissioner Stanley Kamande held a public sensitization forum urging residents to report any suspected diversion of relief food meant for vulnerable communities.
Kamande said the Government was committed to ensuring strict accountability in the distribution of relief food and nutrition supplies to ensure assistance reaches families affected by food insecurity in Marsabit.
“Relief food is intended to save lives and restore the dignity of the people facing hunger and must never be diverted or misused,” Kamande said during the public sensitization forum.
He spoke during a series of public participation forums held across the county to promote accountability, transparency and community involvement in food assistance programmes.
The week-long forums were held in Moyale, Sololo, North Horr and Loinyangalani sub-counties and brought together officials from the national and county governments, the Ministry of Health, the county security team, humanitarian agencies and community representatives, and community members.
The meeting focused on food security, nutrition and measures to strengthen transparency in relief food distribution programmes.
By Sebastian Miriti /Anthony Melly
