Speed up maize probe, Kiunjuri urges EACC
What you need to know:
President has twice warned CS to ensure real farmers, not cartels, are paid.
The warnings have led to Mr Kiunjuri being vilified on social media.
- He could not explain why some traders were paid against a directive that the ministry .
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri is betting on investigations by anti-graft agencies to establish how money meant for maize farmers ended up in the pockets of traders and middlemen.
Mr Kiunjuri said that soon after being appointed CS in February, he had forwarded the file on the maize payment scandal to the Ethics and anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.
CULPABLE
“I urge the EACC and DCI — I wish I could direct them — to expedite this investigation in compliance with the president’s directive. The buck now stops with them,” Mr Kiunjuri said at his Kilimo House office where he sought to absolve himself from blame for the payments.
On two occasions in a month President Kenyatta has uncharacteristically warned Mr Kiunjuri to ensure that money meant for farmers is not paid to cartels. On Sunday he asked the CS to establish where the money went or be held culpable for the mess.
WARNING
The warnings have led to Mr Kiunjuri being vilified on social media, including being advised by former Kiambu governor William Kabogo to resign before he is sacked. This, Mr Kiunjuri said, had caused him distress.
“I wish they can take their sins, do their work thoroughly, and give me some peace,” Mr Kiunjuri said.
He said the ministry had paid Sh2.05 billion to 152 farmers who supplied 180,000 tonnes of maize to the National Cereals and Produce Board last year.
DIRECTIVE
They are, however, claiming another Sh1.47 billion, which Mr Kiunjuri wants verified by the agencies. There are 72 farmers who supplied more maize than their farms could produce. He could not explain why some traders were paid against a directive that the ministry withholds disbursements until the investigation was completed.
Saying he had done his best, Mr Kiunjuri pledged to leave office if found culpable. “I will go. It is not a matter of asking,” he said, adding that he did not take offence over the president’s utterances.
PAYMENT
An angry President Kenyatta delved into the maize payment scandal early this month at the Nairobi Trade fair when he publicly asked Mr Kiunjuri to get to the bottom of the saga.
“I promise you … and I swear before God, you try that again and you’ll see what is going to happen to you. We don’t want these jokes anymore,” the president said.
And on Saturday during the Mashujaa Day, the president was even more direct, telling Mr Kiunjuri to give up the traders paid on behalf of farmers, or “you will be in trouble yourself.”
