• Haji said since Parliament was adjourned on Tuesday over coronavirus, Munya should give an order to the board and the management to stick to their mandates.
Image: DOUGLAS OKIDDY
The National Assembly committee on Agriculture and Livestock has asked Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya to step in and end wrangles at Kephis involving the board and management.
Committee chairman Adan Haji said Parliament was concerned, not just with the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service board but several others which have 'overstepped' their mandate.
Haji said since Parliament was adjourned on Tuesday over coronavirus, Munya should give an order to the board and the management to stick to their mandates.
“Once Parliament resume business, this is one of the issues we want to deal with. We have another board within the agriculture sector that is interfering with the day to day running of the institution. We will put this to an end,” the Mandera South MP said on Wednesday.
“As we wait for coronavirus to clear, it is our hope that the CS will move in with speed and get to the bottom of the matter. Kephis is a critical institution which is key in realisation of the Big 4 Agenda,” he added.
At the centre of the crisis is what staff describe as "overbearing interference " from the board.
Several staff who spoke to the Star on condition of anonymity said there is reluctance by the board to renew contracts of top management despite meeting all the requirements. They called on Munya to come to intervene.
It is understood that some individuals with vested interests are pushing to bring a candidate of their own and push out Dr Esther Kimani, despite her good performance since she took over the position in 2014.
An unnamed politician has been accused of attempting to lobby for his relative to topple Kimani.
Board chairman Robin Achoki said on the matter, "no comment".
Kimani recently launched a successful campaigned aimed helping protect mango trees from diseases.
The campaign dubbed -‘Komesha Fruit fly’ targets the fruit fly menace in mango farms especially in parts of lower Eastern region.
Moiben MP Silas Tiren, who is also a member of the Agriculture committee, said Kimani has delivered over the years.