West Kano Rice Farmers present petition on fund misappropriation allegation
By Dickson Odhiambo
June 1, 2023,
West Kano Rice
Farmers present petition on fund misappropriation allegation
RICE Farmers at West Kano Irrigation Scheme have presented
their petition before a Parliamentary Committee on Public Petitions citing misappropriation
of Public Funds.
The Farmers through their Representatives Patrick Ochieng
Odindo, Hezbon Accra Ogol and Malaki Ochieng presented the petition before the
National Assembly Public Participation Committee during a session held within
the West Kano Irrigation scheme in Kisumu County.
Presenting their Petition, the Farmers claim that there was
a gross misappropriation of funds meant for Rehabilitation of the scheme,
Mismanagement of farm machineries where 13 tractors have now been grounded and misappropriation
of the Economic Stimulus Package{ESP} funds of about shs 68 million.
They also claim the alleged misappropriation of Rice Sales
Funds.
They told the Committee that between 2009 and 2015, the West
Kano Irrigation scheme’s Farmers Revolving Fund Society, the National
Irrigation Board now the National Irrigation Authority {NIA} managed the
rehabilitation fund, Economic Stimulus Package Fund and the Farmers savings.
The Farmers also told the committee that sh 18million that
was meant for revolving fund for them was also allegedly embezzled.
Giving his submissions to the Committee, George Okaka,
Chairman of the scheme's Revolving Fund told the committee that farmers were given inputs from sh 18
million that was meant for revolving funds.
However, he was at pains to explain to the Committee how many farmers benefitted from the funds and whether they refunded the money as it was supposed to be the case.
National Irrigation Authority on its part confirmed to the
committee that indeed shs 68 Million was for Economic Stimulus Package {ESP}
and shs 18 Million was from Cooperative Bank meant to repay the farmers debts
that they owed the Authority.
However, the authority was at pains to explain why the funds
later became a revolving fund to farmers instead of using it to clear the Rice
Farmers’ debts they owe it.
The Vice Chair of the National Assembly Committee on Public
Petitions Janet Sitienei who chaired the session said have listened to the
various persons in regard to the issues presented before them by the West Kano
Irrigation scheme Rice farmers.
She says the committee will write a report and come up with
recommendations in regard to the fact finding mission they have carried out
following the issues presented before it.
Some of the West Kano Irrigation Scheme Rice Farmers’
prayers in the petition to the Committee is to carry out a thorough financial
inspection of the scheme between 2007 and 2021 as well as carrying out
institutional audit of the scheme since its inception.
They also want the Committee to carry out a forensic Audit
of all the officers who have been involved in the management of the scheme
since 2007 to 2021.
They further want to Committee to table a Bill in Parliament
establishing the Kenya National Farmers Commission to champions for the rights
of all the farmers across the country.
The National Assembly Committee on Public Petitions was led
by Turbo Member of Parliament Janet Sitienei who is the Vice Chair of the
Committee.
Two other Committee Members Eng Bernard Muriuki{Mbeere South
MP} and John Bwire{Taveta MP} were present during the session.
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I can see it was a good talk but there should have been timelines on investigations just like it was said that procurement of new pumps begin by July this year
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