Trans Nzoia County Governor Patrick Khaemba has urged Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri to make sure subsidized fertilizer reaches the County as soon as possible to enable farmers to plan well and plant their maize during the current rainy season. Speaking during a Devolution Conference in Kitale, Governor Khaemba said so far farmers in the County are finding it hard to access fertilizer in cereals boards despite the fact that the farms have already been tilled. He said that efforts to introduce Mavuno fertilizer, which is cheap, aren’t enough. “The Agriculture CS is sleeping on his job for he hasn’t provided the fertilizer yet he pledged to do so,” he said.
The Trans Nzoia Governor criticized the Devolution CS for failing to provide funds to cereal boards for purchasing maize from farmers, whom he said have found it hard to access the Cereals Boards. However, he lauded the benefits of devolution in the County, citing the many projects that have been set up as a result of devolution including a referral hospital and a bus stage that were constructed through devolution funds. Moreover, Governor Khaemba appealed to the national government to increase the quota of funds allocated to Counties to enable projects to be set up.
The Governor said the government should involve all Governors in the plans to achieve the Big Four Agenda, adding that the plan can be achieved when there is cooperation between the Counties and the national government.