On Wednesday morning Kenyans on twitter irked by the scandals that have been witnessed recently in the Agriculture sector, the maize and sugar scandals.
They woke up to troll the Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri for the maize scam which has seen more farmers suffer following their unpaid dues.
However, Kiunjuri on Tuesday blamed the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) for the delayed investigations into the maize scandal.
He now claims that in June two maize traders were paid despite an order from EACC to stop payments to farmers pending investigations.
Kiunjuri says the two were paid Sh13.9 million in June.
According to documents on pending bills for maize purchase for 2017-18, Antony Kipngetich supplied 10,935 50kg bags of maize to Kisumu depot and was paid Sh8.2 million in June 26.
Kiunjuri added that another trader, Isaiah Kipkemei, supplied 13,964, 50kg bags and received Sh5.7 million on June 18.
“These two individuals were paid even with clear instructions to the National Cereals and Produce Board from the EACC and the ministry not to make any more payments from April to pave way for investigations following irregularities in payment of farmers,” the CS told journalists.
Kenyans on twitter however turned blames on President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto for both the scandals, with blogger Robert Alai arguing that Ruto’s allies are the one behind Maize scam whereas Uhuru’s allies took part in the sugar scandal.
You can’t sort the Maize scam without sorting the Sugar Scam. While it’s assumed that people close to DP Ruto were involved in the maize scam, it’s worth noting that people close to President Uhuru were the brains behind the illegal sugar importation. It’s a standoff!!’
— Robert ALAI, HSC (@RobertAlai) October 23, 2018
Some Kenyans have come in to defend CS Kiunjuri on the maize scandal, citing that the CS was not in power during the Mexico Maize scandal, an import of yellow maize that was made last year.
The blames in maize scandal now turns on Ruto as the sugar scam turns its focus to President Kenyatta.
@CS_Kiunjuri Is a victim of circumstances..he was not the CS during the mexico maize import..@WilliamsRuto @UKenyatta
— Wanjohi Mkulima (@WanjohiMkulima) October 23, 2018
The president is at a crossroad, he’s now like a hyena, he has a huge appetite for chewing his DP not realizing that his DP is part of him,in their veins, flows the same kind of blood.
— Danson K. Kimutai (@DansonKimutai) October 24, 2018
You’re 100% right @RobertAlai. Each side has hidden skeletons in their closests. From the two top guys, it’s like, you slap me on the right, I will slap you on the left! Therefore, the fight against graft has plateaued becos, btn @UKenyatta & @WilliamsRuto, nobody is clean!
— Joseph Lister Nyaringo (@ListerNyaringo) October 23, 2018
No doubt that the presidency is involved in almost all these scandals, He is the leader of the "dining table"
— Eliud159 (@ProseocutaDenis) October 23, 2018
We are led by thugs. Economic terrorists. Uhuru people trying to poison us with sugar while both leaders dont care about farmers.
— BrutalHonest 🇰🇪 🇳🇬 🇸🇸 🇺🇬 (@BrutalHonest3) October 23, 2018