22 senior managers from the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) have been interdicted over alleged theft of the Government subsidized fertilizer where 10,000 bags have already been retrieved.
The government availed 2,758,520 bags of assorted fertilizer that is currently being distributed to farmers through the NCPB depot network. Farmers are able to access the fertilizer at subsidized prices of Sh.1800 per every 50kg bag, when buying directly from the depots.
As this process is taking place, there have been some confirmed cases of abuse of the Programme as some of the government fertilizer has been found in the hands of corrupt traders who have been said to be colluding with the managers in charge, in repackaging it.
Such cases which are under police investigations have been reported in Nakuru, Kitale, Meru and Thika. The already intercepted bags of fertilizer have been taken back to the stores.
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The discovery has forced the Ministry of Agriculture to come up with strict measures such as suspending all the officers who are found to engaging in such malpractices as thorough investigations continue taking place. The Ministry added that the situation is unacceptable as it undermines the overall goal of ensuring food security.
The exercise is expected to take not more than one month and those found to have executed their duties diligently and efficiently will resume back to work while those found culpable will no longer be part of NCPB and may even face prosecution.
Article by Juma Fred.