RACHUONYO SET FOR POOR HARVEST AS FERTILIZER,SEED SCAM ROCKS THE REGION.

By Shem Kosse

Rachuonyo distirct and its environ is lkely to receive poor harvest this season following a well ochestrated scheme whereby the area’ District Agricultural Officer(DAO) is allegedly conspiring by some top officials in the agriculture ministry to divert the fertilizer and certified seeds worth kshs 7.5 million,meant for farmers.

The DAO,Mrs Jane Wekesa is accused by farmers and his staff for working in carhoot with the ministry’ director Mr Wasonga,and rachuonyo district accountant to hoard fertilizer and certified seeds for their financial gain.

Citing a project running by the name Njaa Marufuku whereby each farmer was entitled to one packet of maize and fertilizer each for planting,they said that Wekesa instead,embarked on distributing relief maize justifying that they were seeds from Agricultural Marketing(AGRIMARK).

They disclosed that the uncertified seeds they were being supplied with were drawn from the store after Jane forcefully grabbed the key from the storeman.

And that in a bid to further achieve her sleeze schemes she hired the services of her cronies shunning the qualified stockists and agrovets trained by the AGRIMARK and who are supposed to supply the same.

Independent investigations reveals that she gives phantom returns to AGRIMARK indicating what the suppliers have “distributed” and in return being accorded a cheque which is later encashed,to be shared religiously among the cartel.

Still on seeds,the Kenya Seed Company,also supplied 200 bells of certified seeds to be distributed to farmers in the area but the DAO in contrary conspired with some stockists,sold snd bagged the money.

Farmers inputs aside,Wekesa who is said to be currently battling with putting up her state of the-art-four storey building in busia town has not spared the workers claims.
Whenever there is an activity and various heads of deparments prepare and present their budget for approval (read lunch, travelling allowance,accomodation among others) she appends her signature.

And subsequently she subjects the workers fraternity to frustrations only to withdraw  the cash later and mercilessly line up her pockets with.
Efforts to reach the adversely mentioned personalities proved futile with the DAO brushing off the allegations as baseless.

The farmers and the staff who were talking on strict conditions of anonimity now wants the minister of agriculture William Ruto to crack the whip on the graft -ridden Rachuonyo DAO’ office to salvage the situation.

Ends Shem Kosse