Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi, along with Trade Counterpart Rebecca Miano faced Senate summons over the distribution of counterfeit fertilizers masquerading as government-subsidized ones in Kenya.
Government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura firmly stood by Linturi, asserting that the CS wasn’t directly involved in the scandal.
Mwaura dismissed calls for Linturi’s resignation, stating that ongoing investigations would likely absolve him of any wrongdoing.
Mwaura emphasized that investigations were underway to confirm the presence of fake fertilizers in the market. He suggested the possibility of political rivals orchestrating the scam to undermine the government’s agricultural initiatives.
Clarifying the distribution process, Mwaura explained that entities like the NCPB utilized third-party agencies for distribution, distancing the board itself from direct involvement.
Despite the setback, Mwaura assured that all government-subsidized fertilizers were appropriately labeled, implying that the counterfeit products were likely introduced through alternative channels.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) had seized significant quantities of fake fertilizers, both in transit and from farmers, indicating the extensive reach of the scam. Efforts to recall distributed counterfeit bags were ongoing to mitigate further harm to farmers.
