Deputy Director of Programmes, Public Policy and President’s Priority Initiatives Pius Chirchir has been charged with abuse of office and attempting to commit a felony.
In a statement by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the senior government official stands accused of demanding a 2 per cent stake in Kentegra Pyrethrum Company Limited.
“After comprehensive investigations conducted by the DCI in a case where Pius Chirchir, the Deputy Director of Programmes, Public Policy and President’s Priority Initiatives is implicated, the said state officer has been charged for Abuse of office and Attempting to commit a felony at the Makadara Law Courts,” the DCI stated.
Adding;
“In the classic case of outright violation of the code of conduct for state officers, the suspect (Pius Chirchir) demanded a 2% stake (shareholding) from Kentegra Pyrethrum Company Limited to assist the company in bypassing the hurdles brought about by the Pyrethrum Act of 2013 which required farmers to use the electronic Tax Invoice Management System (eTIMS), and also help the company in its case concerning the illegal sale of two (2) tons of Kentegra dried pyrethrum flowers to Pyrethrum Processing Company of Kenya.”
According to DCI, he sought this shareholding to help the company in navigating regulatory obstacles posed by the Pyrethrum Act of 2013.
The Act mandated farmers to use the electronic Tax Invoice Management System (eTIMS).
Additionally, Chirchir purportedly offered assistance to the company regarding an incident involving the illegal sale of two tons of Kentegra dried pyrethrum flowers to Pyrethrum Processing Company of Kenya.
The DCI characterized this situation as a blatant violation of the code of conduct for state officers.
Chirchir was arraigned on April 16, 2024, facing charges related to the aforementioned offences.
He was subsequently released on a bond of Ksh200,000, requiring one surety of the same amount, with an alternative option of Ksh100,000 cash bail.
The case is scheduled for mention on June 13, 2024, with a full hearing slated for September 17, 2024, before Court No. 7 of Makadara Law Courts.
“The suspect was arraigned on April 16, 2024, charged with the two offences, and was released on a bond of Sh200,000 with one surety of the same amount with an option of Sh100,000 cash bail. The matter will be mentioned on June 13, 2024, ahead of its hearing set for September 17, 2024, before Court No. 7 of Makadara Law Courts,” the DCI announced.
SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL CHARGED FOR ABUSING OFFICE
— DCI KENYA (@DCI_Kenya) April 18, 2024
After comprehensive investigations conducted by the DCI in a case where Pius Chirchir, the Deputy Director of Programmes, Public Policy and President’s Priority Initiatives is implicated, the said state officer has been… pic.twitter.com/l1fDrRssAs
