State hires firm to revamp grain custodian

By Moses Nyamori

Eldoret, Kenya: The Government has contracted a consultancy firm to advise on restructuring operations at National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) to improve efficiency in service delivery.

Ernst and Young, which has been contracted by the Ministry of Agriculture held a meeting with farmers and stakeholders at the board’s headquarters in Eldoret to discuss how to improve NCPB operations.

“We are here to discuss with farmers ways of restructuring the operations of NCPB with an aim of improving its service delivery to farmers in the country. It is an initiative of the Government through the Ministry of Agriculture to help rejuvenate the board,” said Mr Daniel Kamande of Ernst and Young.

NCPB’s operations were recently crippled by a procurement challenge involving Erad Suppliers Limited after the High Court granted the firm’s application to freeze the board’s accounts. The board’s operations manager Ernest Ogwaro said they were committed to improving operations despite the court dispute.

“We want to restructure the board to improve operations and that is why we are engaging farmers and other stakeholders in the agriculture sector,” said Mr Ogwaro.

Farmers proposed the role of fertiliser distribution be given back to Kenya Farmers Association as NCPB delays release of the same.