This archive report was first published on 17 October 2019.
October 17, 2019, marked a day of reckoning for the Kenyan Seed Company as farmers and seed agents accused the government of sleeping on the job in the face of a 4 million share scandal.
Speaking to the press in Kitale, Job Sang and Eliud Turmoi, representatives of the affected farmers, called on the Jubilee government to wake up and act immediately to arrest the culprits behind the scandal.
The cartels, led by Nathaniel Tum and his associates, allegedly floated 4 million shares in the Agricultural Development Cooperation to dilute government shares and gain control of the strategic state cooperation.
According to Tum's plan, which dates back to 1998, his son David, the director of Simlaw Seeds, would take over as the managing director of Kenya Seed, shielding his father's dubious dealings and potentially allowing the family to own the company as a private entity.
The farmers have challenged the Directorate of Criminal Investigation and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission to explain their inaction in the face of this scandal, which they believe is a clear case of corruption and abuse of power.
They have also urged the cartels to stop using powerful individual names, such as former President Daniel Moi, President Uhuru Kenyatta, and Deputy President William Ruto, to steal from public institutions.
As the investigation into this scandal continues, one thing is clear: the farmers will not rest until justice is served and the culprits are brought to book.
