During an exclusive interview with Citizen TV’s Sam Gituku on April 12, Agriculture Ministry CS Mithika Linturi made a bold claim regarding the latest fake fertilizer scandal that has left farmers counting losses. He claimed that the top officials of the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) and the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) must be held accountable for the ongoing fake fertilizer scandal.
The then Meru senator Mithika Linturi addressing the media outside Meru court
Linturi was adamant that his Ministry remained blameless in this scandal. He clarified that the Ministry of Agriculture does not deal with purchasing and distributing farm produce to consumers. Instead, its role is to formulate policies and pass them on to state departments such as NCPB and KEBS for implementation.
During the interview, Gituku posed a thought-provoking question: “What is the opposite of fake?” To which Linturi responded, “Genuine.” Gituku then asked, “So is the substandard fertilizer genuine?”
CS Mithika Linturi gestures during a past media presser
Linturi’s response highlighted the complexity of the issue. He explained that understanding the distinction between what is correct and incorrect in this context is a task best left to scientists. He elaborated that the fertilizer in question lacks the necessary percentages of the compounds a plant requires.
Linturi expressed his concern over the politicization of the issue. He emphasized that the focus should be on the scientific facts of the matter rather than political debates. The interview ended on a note of urgency, with Linturi urging for accountability and action to resolve the scandal and alleviate the suffering of the farmers.
Mithika Linturi: What was run on Africa Uncensored is not anything that I would take seriously. Irresponsible journalism would require that before you do it, get a clarification from the Ministry to understand what is happening. There is every reason for one also to say no, this is not fair.
