Trader Charged With Sh167M Fraud Over Relief Food

A businessman who claimed to be an employee of World Food Pro- gramme (WFP) has been charged with fraudulently obtaining assorted food stuff from a city company worth Sh167,320,900.

Victor Mahoga Ayumba denied before the Milimani Court Principal Magistrate Rose Ndombi.

Ayumba was accused of conspiring to defraud Frontline Tarkipa Media Limited (FTML) various edible food commodities claiming they were for needy members of the society.

He allegedly obtained 9,903 (90kg) bags of white maize, 9,700 of 20 li- tres of cooking oil, 9,450 cartons of (25×800 grams) of bar soap and 4,400 (50kg) bags of brown sugar valued at Sh167,320,900 from FTML.

Cases pending

Ayumba applied to be admitted to bail saying he is not a flight risk.

The prosecution did not oppose the bail application but however told the court that there are five related cases all stemming from the same transac- tion.
The magistrate was told the food- stuff was meant for refugees in camps within the country.

The magistrate heard that five cases are pending before Senior Principal Magistrates Robinson Ondieki and Geoffrey Onsarigo.

“All the cases related to the acquisi- tion of food stuffs meant for refugees will be consolidated and tried by Mr Ondieki,” Ndombi heard.

She was told the case will be con- solidated as all the witnesses are the same and the exhibits.

He was ordered to deposit a bond of Sh2 million to secure his release.

The matter will be mentioned on August 1, 2024.