Kenya: Three employees of East Africa Portland Cement Co (EAPCC) have been suspended while three more have been put under further investigations in the ongoing forensic audit into the theft of cement. The six are said to be mid-level managers in the company's procurement and supplies department.

Another two employees have been cautioned following the audit of EAPCC sales and procurement books. "A number of staff who were found culpable were disciplined according to the gravity of their offences," said EAPCC. "Three people were interdicted, three were asked to explain their actions and why disciplinary action should not be taken against them and another two were cautioned."

The investigations into suspected theft by staff at EAPCC revealed massive manipulations of sales records leading to the fraudulent shipment of large consignments of cement from the factory premises in Athi River. Sources at EAPCC said that the audit revealed rampant manipulation of product quotations and Local Purchases Order (LPO) prices, rendering the company's products more expensive in the market hence depressing sales. This has had a direct impact on the business and raised the cost of production.

"We are not relenting on this one," said an EAPCC spokesperson. "A lot of dirty things have been going on here and we have resolved to kill the illegal deals once and for all."

EAPCC expects its profits to dip by more than 25% over the financial year that ends in June 2014. The company attributed the expected dip in profit to reduced sales and rising costs. EAPCC also attributed the outlook to reduced export sales and loss of market share in Kenya.