As the push for impeachment of Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi continues, MPs say they have discovered 107 bags of fake fertilisers in Homa Bay.
The parliamentary committee led by Nyando MP Jared Okello, his counterparts Geoffrey Odanga (Matayos) and Peter Salasya (Mumias East) who were in the company of Governor Gladys Wanga visited the NCPB depot in Homa Bay town where they said they discovered the anomalies.
The committee said the 107 bags of fertilisers that were in the depot were found to be fake.
Okello said the counterfeits had been put aside in the depot to prevent farmers from purchasing them.
“We've discovered that some fake fertilisers were brought to Homa Bay. A farmer had raised complaints after buying six bags of the fertilisers,” Okello said.
Speaking after doing inspections at Homa town depot on Saturday, the leaders said 63 bags of the fertilisers had been sold in Homa Bay.
They called for a stop of selling the remaining ones.
“It is evident that there are fake fertilisers in this NCPB depot. I encourage farmers who bought them to report,” he said.
The parliamentary committee members said they are going to compile their report which will determine the extent to which the fakes had infiltrated NCPB depots and farms in the country.
Salasya said their findings will also determine whether more voices should come out to support impeachment of CS Linturi.
"CS Linturi was summoned in Parliament and said he was not aware of existence of the fake fertilisers.We've now discovered them in NCPB depots and once investigations are complete, we'll recommend what should be done to him,” Salasya said.
Wanga expressed concerns that Homa Bay got fewer bags of fertilisers than what was recommended. However, part of the few bags turned out to be fake.
She said Homa Bay registered 245,000 farmers who ought to have got 165 million bags.
But the county received only 23,000 bags.
“Homa Bay was expecting to receive bags worth Sh165 million but what we got was shockingly too low. What aggravates the matter is that part of the fertilisers were fake,” Wanga said.
She told the Ministry of Agriculture to ensure Homa Bay gets the share of fertilisers it deserves.
“Homa Bay is among counties which registered the highest number of farmers. We want to be given the quantity of fertilisers we deserve,” Wanga said.
The governor said agriculture is a devolved function that requires the funds for subsidised fertilisers to be given to counties to purchase for their farmers.
