OP dished out State farms, says parastatal chief

The list tabled in Parliament on prominent beneficiaries of Agricultural Development Corporation farms is genuine.

The corporation Managing Director William Kirwa verified the list with names — including a minister and MP — as accurate.

Mr Kirwa also told how during the former regime the Office of the President dished out ADC land after taking over the State Corporation from the Ministry of Agriculture.

Asked by Public Investment Committee (PIC) chairman Mithika Linturi whether the document tabled in Parliament last week contained accurate names of those allocated the ADC land, Kirwa replied: "We can confirm that’s the true position."

But Kirwa declined to comment who the name ‘G K Saitoti’ listed in the document referred to or if the Kipng’eno Ngeny named is the former minister. "I would not want to discuss that. Perhaps we can give you the title deed number to confirm the identities," he told the PIC at Parliament Buildings yesterday.

Agriculture Assistant Minister Kareke Mbiuki last week tabled the document naming those who benefited from ADC farms but it was rejected because it was not signed. The document, a copy of which The Standard obtained, lists those who were allocated above the average allocations of five acres in ADC Nyota Complex and settlement schemes carved out of the corporation’s other farms.