Former West Pokot Governor John Lonyangapuo shocked an Eldoret court this week after admitting he bypassed legal procurement procedures to acquire relief maize worth Ksh.17 million in 2017. The move, he explained, was driven by the urgent need to save his constituents from starvation.
Appearing before Senior Principal Magistrate Richard Odenyo, Lonyangapuo confessed to directly sourcing 20,000 bags of white maize during his tenure without following the requisite county procurement protocols. He was testifying in an ongoing corruption case involving six former senior county officials and a cereal trader implicated in the maize procurement saga.
The accused—former County Secretary Mike Parklea, Solomon Mereng, Alice Chepkosgei, Joseph Lolamtumtum, Elvis Mwanga, Titus Mayech, and trader Margaret Tuitoek—are charged with misappropriating Ksh.17 million between October 11, 2017, and July 2018. All have denied the charges and are currently out on bond.
Lonyangapuo, however, defended his decision, stating the lives of his constituents were at risk due to a severe food crisis at the time. “I could not sit and watch as the people who elected me died from hunger just because we were waiting for a long procurement process,” he said.
He further revealed that the suppliers had already delivered the maize to depots of the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) across the region, awaiting distribution to the affected families. He maintained that delaying payment was justified given the urgency of the situation and the eventual delivery of the relief supplies.
The former governor’s candid admission has stirred public debate on the balance between bureaucratic procedures and humanitarian emergencies, especially in disaster-prone regions like West Pokot.
Magistrate Odenyo has scheduled the judgement for July 23, 2025, in a case closely watched for its implications on public procurement accountability and the handling of emergencies by elected leaders.
The ruling could set a precedent on how legal systems interpret actions taken under extreme circumstances, particularly in relation to anti-corruption enforcement in the devolved units.
