Some 107 bags of alleged fake fertilisers have been discovered in Homa Bay as the push for the impeachment of Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi continues.
The parliamentary committee led by Nyando MP Jared Okello, Geoffrey Odanga (Matayos) and Peter Salasya (Mumias East) who were in company of Governor Gladys Wanga made the discovery when they visited the NCPB depot in Homa Bay town.
Okello said the fertilisers had been put aside in the depot to prevent farmers from purchasing them.
“We've discovered that the 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 a total of 63 bags of the alleged fake fertiliser had been sold in Homa Bay.
They called for a stop to the selling of the remaining fertilisers in the depot.
“I encourage farmers who bought the fake fertilisers to make reports with relevant authorities,” he said.
The parliamentary committee members said they are going to compile their report which will determine the extent to which the fake fertilisers had infiltrated NCPB depots and farms in the country.
Salasya said their findings will also determine whether more voices should come out to support the impeachment of CS Linturi.
"CS Linturi was summoned to parliament and said he was not aware of the existence of the fake fertilisers. We've now discovered them in NCPB depots and once investigations is 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 bags turned out fake.
She said Homa registered 245,000 farmers who ought to have got 165 million bags. But the county received 23,000 bags only.
“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 the top 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 fertilizers to be given to counties to purchase for their farmers.
