- The Kericho senator also urged the lawmakers to jealously guard some of the crucial programs being rolled out by the government from being derailed.
- Mudavadi has called on the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) to reveal the suppliers implicated in the fertilizer scandal.
Image: COURTESY
Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot has intensified calls for an investigation into the alleged fake fertilizer claims, urging the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to take swift action.
Cheruiyot condemned those involved as economic saboteurs saying they must face legal consequences.
Speaking in Bomet, the senator challenged the Director of Public Prosecutions to prioritize the matter and order an investigation to bring to book the perpetrators.
"We should not allow cartels to overrun us, by now the DPP on its motion should have directed EACC to round up anybody, entity or business involved in the manufacturer of such fake fertilizer," Cheruiyot said.
Acknowledging the government's subsidy program, Cheruiyot highlighted the region's bumper harvest in the last season, attributing it to government intervention.
He expressed concern that individuals who had been profiting from the fertilizer business were unhappy with the program's success.
"As a community, we rely heavily on agriculture and last year we had over 200,000 hectares under plantation thanks to the intervention by the government and that is why those who were in the business are unhappy," he stated.
Cheruiyot at the same urged the lawmakers to jealously guard some of the crucial programs being rolled out by the government from being derailed.
He cited the affordable housing and universal health care.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has on his part called on the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) to reveal the suppliers implicated in the fertilizer scandal.
“We are urging the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) not to delay because they know the supply chain and can identify which consignment was brought in by whom out of this fertilizer. Let us ensure that the law catches up with these individuals so they can face charges,” he said.
Mudavadi assured farmers that the government is committed to safeguarding the supply of subsidized fertilizer from disruption by unscrupulous traders attempting to infiltrate the local market.
He warned that the nation’s food security is at risk due to those implicated in the scandal.
“There are critical areas where we have essential commodities, including food production involving fertilizer and seeds. As a government, we will not allow these unscrupulous traders to compromise our nation’s food security,” he affirmed.
A week ago, a multi-agency security team in Nakuru seized 560 bags of suspected counterfeit fertilizer.
The operation followed an intelligence report that National Police Service officers received regarding the presence of substandard fertiliser at the National Cereals and Produce Board, Molo depot.
The multi-agency team comprised the Director of Criminal Investigations Molo, the area Critical Infrastructure Protection Unit (CIPU) commander, the Assistant County Commander, Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) and Anti Counterfeit Agency officials.