Six people have been arrested in Marsabit Central Sub-County after security officers recovered bags of government relief food suspected to have been diverted from the intended beneficiaries.
The operation was conducted on Thursday afternoon at Majengo Sub-location, approximately six kilometres north of Marsabit town, following reports from members of the public regarding suspicious activities at a private compound in the area.
A security team led by the Marsabit Central Deputy County Commissioner raided the compound of a retired Assistant Education Officer (AEO), where they recovered 74 bags of rice and 10 bags of beans.
Each bag weighed 50 kilogrammes and bore the Government of Kenya markings indicating that the food was part of a relief consignment meant to support vulnerable residents.
“The officers recovered relief food bearing government markings from a private compound, alongside other items believed to be linked to the distribution of the supplies,” a security officer familiar with the operation said.
Investigators also recovered 135 empty bags marked with Government of Kenya symbols, as well as 84 empty bags from different rice brands stored in a nearby building.
The officers further impounded a white Isuzu NPR truck registration number KCF 123R, which was found inside the compound carrying part of the recovered food supplies.
Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) officers documented and secured evidence at the scene before transporting the food and the vehicle to Marsabit Police Station.
According to documents reviewed by investigators, the relief food had been allocated for distribution in Kachacha Sub-location, Saku Constituency.
The supplies are alleged to have been removed from an area under the administration of the Sagante/Jaldesa Deputy County Commissioner, as authorities continue investigations into how the consignment ended up in a private residence.
“The investigation is ongoing to establish how the relief supplies reached a private compound and whether other individuals were involved,” an officer handling the investigations said.
Those arrested have been identified as Sanke Abudo, 56; Chame Yasin Orge, 19; Kedir Ibrahim Yacho, 20; Guyo Jala Elama, 27; Hassan Guyo Mohamed, 32; and Sola Dida Huri, 22.
Police said the suspects are being held at Marsabit Police Station as investigations continue.
The matter has been handed over to detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Marsabit Central Sub-County to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged diversion of the government relief food.
“We are working to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident and take appropriate legal action against anyone found culpable,” a source familiar with the investigations said.
Investigations are ongoing.
