By Peter Ochieng
Cabinet Secretary (CS) for agriculture Franklin Mithika Linturi has been defended over the fake fertiliser scam, coming in the middle of a planting season.
On Wednesday, the opposition called for resignation of Linturi, his health counterpart Susan Nakhumicha for failing to resolve the doctors’ strike, and transport CS Onesmus Murkomen over an increase in fatal road accidents across the country.
However, government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura has defended Linturi stating that he has not been directly linked to the scandal.
“That is a long shot. There is no way he is culpable of this, he is not involved. The investigations are ongoing and so far the minister of agriculture is working his level best to deliver,” he said.
He seemingly denied that there is circulation of fake fertiliser in the market, adding that investigations are ongoing to establish the truth.
Mwaura said ‘enemies of the government’ may be behind the scandal to water-down the government’s fertiliser subsidy program.
“You can use a government agency like the postal corporation to distribute courier services by contracting it. Its the same case with Capital Kenya Limited. It is not NCPB itself,” he added.
He insisted that the government subsidy fertiliser is being supplied in clearly labelled bags.
“All fertilisers under the government-subsidised program are sold in clearly labelled bags.”
Various government agencies including the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), are conducting investigations over the fake fertiliser’s scam.