Heads to roll as CS Felix Koskei moves in to crack whip over export scandal

Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture Felix Koskei says managers in charge of the specific departments that clear exports will be investigated. [PHOTO: FILE/STANDARD]

NAIROBI, KENYA: Jobs of senior managers with three State agriculture-based directorates are on the chopping board as government intensifies efforts to save the country from losing the lucrative European Union market following claims of traders cleared to export produce with high levels of pesticides.

Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Cabinet Secretary Felix Koskei, over the weekend, said an audit will be carried out in the State agencies charged with clearing local produce for export to EU market.

The three institutions include Horticultural Crops Directorate (HCD) formerly Horticulture Crops Development Authority, Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Services (Kephis) and Pest Capital Products Board (PCPB).

“The ministry will carry out an intensive inspection of the administration structures of the three institutions with a view to ascertaining their effectiveness. Further, managers who are in charge of the specific departments will also be investigated and if they are found to have failed to discharge their duties, as required, stern action will be instituted against them,” warned Mr Koskei.

NEXT PHASE OF PURGE

HCD interim director Zakayo Magara confirmed six companies exporting fresh produce to EU have been suspended from trading after being intercepted with high levels of Maximum Residuals Limits (MRLs). Once a company is suspended, it remains out of business for a month or until it complies with the new requirement.

EU, in 2012, made changes in its legislation that has made it difficult for the exported beans and peas in pods to meet the requirements of pesticide MRLs. In January 2013, the EU decided to sample these exports at a frequency of 10 per cent to verify compliance. The crops include mangoes, vegetables and certain varieties of flowers.

Some of the companies suspended from trading with EU have been intercepted more than five times, Koskei explained, adding that the Government is determined to stamp out corruption that has riddled State corporations leading to the country almost losing her market share to other countries.

“Nobody will be allowed to mess up with the economy. Our audit is meant to find out whether the structures are operative and if they are, why have they not been able to detect produce with high residues,” he added.

Last week, Koskei sent on compulsory leave the managing director of Kephis Dr James Onsando and acting managing director of HCDA Grace Kyalo.

He warned that the next phase of the purge by the Government will target any other officer who may have played part in abetting corruption in clearing of produce to the EU market.

Kenya, he said, is supposed to have tamed exports with high quantities of MRLs by end of next month.

STACKING THEIR FLOWERS

Agriculture Principal Secretary Sicily Kariuki warned that if the situation would not have been contained by end of next month, then the EU is likely to impose more trade restrictions on Kenya’s exports. KEPHIS acting managing Esther Kimani, however, gave an assurance that new measures have been employed to strengthen the departments that deal with clearing the produce to the EU.

“Some of the exporters have been forging documents, stacking their flowers with other commodities, for example, millers mainly flowers while others have been adding other produce in the consignment after it has been cleared,” explained Dr Kimani.