Charge Kirwa over Sh3b loss at pyrethrum board, report proposes

Former Agriculture Minister Kipruto arap Kirwa should be prosecuted over alleged disappearance of pyrethrum worth Sh3 billion, an MP said.

Mr Kirwa should be charged alongside a former Pyrethrum Board of Kenya (PBK) managing director because the loss occurred under their watch, said the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture John Mututho.

"They should be held responsible for the loss," said Mr Mututho.

Mututho made the plea as Parliament adopted the committee’s report on the woes of the pyrethrum sector. Public Works Minister Chris Obure supported the report.

The Agriculture ministry has since confirmed PBK had lost Sh3 billion since 2003. It found out that as a result of corruption, farmers had not been paid for one year for crop delivered.

Earlier, Mututho claimed the ministry planned to dispose of the board’s assets valued at Sh280 million in a suspect manner. The committee recommended that the board be reconstituted and that the PBK Act be reviewed to liberalise the sector.

Police interdicted

Meanwhile, three hundred and forty eight policemen have been interdicted for misconduct, according to a report brought to Parliament.

The Internal Security Ministry claims that in dates not mentioned, the officers stole money, absconded from duty among other violations.

Internal Security Assistant Minister Orwa Ojode who tabled the report yesterday, announced the transfer of police officers and the OCS of Juja Police station. MPs had demanded change of police standing orders to humanise the force and make it accountable.