Wajir east MP Rashid Kasim Amin has petitioned Agriculture cabinet secretary Peter Munya to explain to parliament why kenya meat commission was transfered to the Defence Ministry.
The MP while seeking a Ministerial Statement requested CS Munya to be invited to the House to shed light on the matter and say what informed the reorganisation and transfer of the roles of KMC to the KDF.
The MP directed the statement to the departmental committee on Agriculture, livestock and fisheries to explain circumstances under which the kenya meat commission had to be transferred to the defence ministry.
Mr Rashid stated that Cabinet Secretary Of Agriculture Peter Munya has to appear in the House in person to shed light On the Matter.
Mr Rashid also requested the CS to address concerns over measures put in place to ensure business continuity and clarify whether the transfer was subject to public participation. He stated the transfer of roles does not comply with kenya meat commission Act and is not in tandem with the state corporation Act.
“Further, the transfer was not subjected to public participation, especially livestock farmers who are the main stakeholders.
“This transfer will have a negative effect, especially to livestock farmers, leading to loss of livelihoods, he said adding “could the CS inform this house of what measures are in place to ensure that livestock farmers are not affected by the said reorganisation?”
After Mr Rashid raised the matter in parliament, Munya is expected to respond to the questions before the Agriculture and livestock committee chaired by Moiben MP Silas Tiren.
The MP’s request for a statement came after KMC roles were on September 7 transferred to the KDF following an executive Order by President Uhuru Kenyatta and executed by Munya.
Mr Rashid giving a background information said KMC was formed in 1950 through an act of Parliament to provide ready market for livestock farmers. It was also to provide high quality meat and meat products to consumers and is among the most experienced meat processors in Africa.
The first time MP has come out boldly in the Parliament to challenge the executive order for the transfer of KMC to defence department. No other MP in Kenya and especially livestock farming areas has talked about the issue while RK has come out openly to rescue the meat vendors.
NFD counties are stakeholders in transporting goats most of which end up in KMC before meat is exported a broad.
However KMC has over the years been struggling with a cash-flow crisis that hampered its operations and threatened its survival. It has been operating below capacity in the face of unreliable supply of raw material — beef — and obsolete machinery.
