Ministry of Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi appeared before the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock on Monday, April 8, 2024, to shed more light into the fake fertiliser scandal.
However, the CS' summon fell shot of parliament's liking after the Cabinet Secretary and his team failed to produce crucial documents needed to investigate the production and supply of the fake fertiliser.
CS Linturi as a result asked parliament for more time to compile and avail the documents.
Appearing before the committee which is chaired by Tigania West MP John Kanyuithia, Linturi and his team submitted that the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) had all the documents proving the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) supplied the right fertiliser to farmers. Consequently, the Agriculture CS failed to produce the said documents before the committee.
“You are saying you have provided the documents but they are not here; what are we dealing with? These are the documents talking about the fake fertiliser and the agency that deliberately distributed the wrong product,” Kanyuithia posed to the CS.
CS Linturi asked the committee for more time to avail the documents which he and his team had marked as annexed in the report.
“I want to take note of all those issues that have not been provided so I can provide another bundle (of documents) for you to clear your minds,” Linturi told MPs.
“I had asked for indulgence for Wednesday because I was out of the country for the whole of last week and I came directly from Meru this morning for this meeting.”
“I beg for more time to supply you with the material alleged to be annexed but is not, because there is nothing to hide.”
Others summoned by parliament to explain the production and supply of fake fertiliser in the country include Trade CS Rebecca Miano, CEOs of NCPB and KEBS.
This comes after 8 have been suspended following ongoing investigations into the fake fertiliser scandal that has since rocked the country.
The eight were interdicted for allegedly issuing certificates and marks of quality to two companies accused of supplying substandard fertiliser under the national susbsidised fertiliser programme.
Investigations into the matter are currently being handled by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and parliament.
The 8 who are all members of the quality assurance department, were interdicted to allow for investigations into the matter that has since irked many farmers across the country.
Among the two companies linked to the scandal include KEL Chemicals whose operations were suspended on Friday, April 5, 2024, after KEBS confirmed that some of its products did not meet the standards.
DCI are investigating how the company managed to obtain quality mark seals from KEBS despite producing substandard fertiliser.
Reports further indicate that over 20 other officials at KEBS are under scrutiny over their involvement in the fake fertiliser scandal.
DCI officers are also exploring options that the two suspended companies may have acted on their own without the knowledge of KEBS officials. The companies may have used a prior approval to repackage and sell substandard fertilers to unsuspecting members of the public.