Aldai Member of Parliament (MP) Maryanne Kitany has asked Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi to take responsibility and carry his cross alone without tarnishing other leader’s names over the influx of fake subsidised fertiliser in the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) depots.
Speaking at Chepkunyuk in Nandi County during a thanksgiving ceremony of the election of Chepkunyuk Member of County Assembly John Tildai, Kitany said the issue of fake fertiliser is grave and should be addressed by the Agriculture CS.
“This issue of distribution of fake fertiliser is serious. Those in the ministry should come out clear and stop the blame games. Someone must carry his cross alone” the legislator said.
Kitany made the remarks even as farmers across some parts of the country race against time to plant maize seedlings amid the fake fertiliser saga.
The MP wants the government to hold senior officials responsible for the scandal instead of shifting blame to other leaders.
“A senior official should take the responsibility. We shouldn’t be shifting the blame to tarnish other innocent leader’s names,” she affirmed.
Kitany’s sentiments were backed up by Nandi Hills MP Bernard Kitur who said it was unfair for the farmers to be given fake fertilisers when they have prepared for the planting season.
“It is very wrong to have such a mess in the Ministry of Agriculture. The officials should tell us why this is happening,” Kitur noted.
Over the weekend, eight officials at the Kenya Bureau of Standards were reportedly suspended over the fake fertiliser saga.
The suspension comes amid an ongoing probe by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) detectives and Parliament.
Officials said the eight were interdicted over the issuance of certification and marks of quality to two companies which have been linked to the sub-standard fertiliser.
The eight were among those grilled by the DCI on Friday last week. After completing investigations, the DCI will forward the file to the DPP.
