NYS Scandal: Suspect Ann Ngirita Tells Court She is Starving in Jail

Ms Anne Wambere Ngirita now claims that she and other accused persons in the Sh9 billion scandal at the National Youth Service are being denied food in jail.

The 30-year-old, who became a key figure in the scam after allegedly admitting to receiving Sh59 million from the youth agency despite supplying nothing, made the claims at the Milimani Law Courts on Wednesday, when she attended a pre-trial conference on the cases.

Through attorney Cliff Ombeta, Ms Ngirita told the anti-corruption court's Magistrate that she had not taken a meal since Sunday. She told the Nation that she has been surviving on the samosas a relative brought her in jail.

“How can we follow these proceedings when we are hungry? We are starving," she said.

She further alleged that officials at Lang’ata Prison in Nairobi, where female suspects are being held, didn't want them to raise the issue in court.

"We are being treated as if we have been convicted,” another woman in the case said.

Mr Ombeta asked Chief Magistrate Douglas Ogoti to order that the suspects be given biscuits and water before the pre-trial conference starts.

However, the magistrate declined to grant the plea and directed that the pre-trial conference proceeds.