The government has released Kshs 1.4 billion towards the payment of farmers, according to Devolution CS Eugene Wamalwa. Addressing the press at Treasury offices in Nairobi, CS Wamalwa has assured farmers that the issue of payment will be catered for after a vetting process for identification and verification has been accomplished. “We’ll be starting the process of vetting today in all our depos and we’ll be requesting all farmers to follow the procedures put in place,” he said. He said the government owes the farmers Kshs 3.5 billion but was quick to assure them that the money is available, “We regret the delay experienced in completing this payment.”
Wamalwa noted that the payment process had been halted by the government after complaints were raised concerning traders who had posed as farmers and were receiving undue payment. “The government would then have to address the farmers’ concerns to get to the bottom of these complaints and a multi-agency team was formed to investigate the concerns. They were indeed genuine concerns,” said the CS, adding that measures have been put in place between ministries and the multi-agency team, that also includes investigations by the EACC and DCI.
He said almost 28 teams have been dispatched to the various NCPBs to work with officials from the Interior Ministry and County administrations in the vetting process. The requirements needed for farmers who’ll be visiting the depos beginning today include delivery notes, certified documents from the chiefs and Sub County agriculture officers, IDs, passport photos, weighbridge details where their maize was weighed among other credentials.
