The Luyia and business

Monday, April 11, 2005 10:59

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BY LUKE KAPCHANGA DN/WEBUYE KITUYI 11/4/2005
Trade & industry minister Dr Mukhisa Kituyi has said that members of the Luyia community will remain poor if they do not change the attitude of being reluctant to venture into business.
Dr Kituyi observed that the community will always be labelled as producers of cooks and watchmen when they leave business opportunities slip away.
He complained that the people of Western province have taken poverty to be away of life and do not struggle to get out of it.

Addresing mourners at the burial of the late Samuel Wamalwa Wanyonyi at Chebukaka village in Sirisia constituency, Bungoma district , the minister challenged the youth to fight poverty like a disease.

He said the region was marginalised during the KANU governement and people thought poverty was part of them and to make money is like an accident.
"Our people have to raise up and fight poverty mercilessly like a plague to make money and develop the region" he remarked.
He told the people of the region to take a brake from political squables and concetrate on income generating projects which will change their living standards.
Dr Kituyi said the Luyias were not taking risks and are only waiting for the government sponsored projects to claim that development was coming to their respective areas.
"Development is not building of roads, schools, hospitals and supply of electricity only but is about involvement of local people to generate money", he said.
He gave the example of the community to two watchmen, one with shoes and another barefooted. He explained that the one with shoes will buy new ones when they get stollen yet the barefooted will never think of buying a pair because he is comfortble in that state.
He claimed the community was not being ambitious enough to participate in the global economy when the doors are open to third world countries.
The minister was accompanied by more than twenty councillors drawn from Bungoma, Trans-Nzoia ang Lugari districts .
Dr Kituyi appealed to the residents of the province to concetrate on development issues and leave politics to the next general elections in 2007.
"There will always be elections after five years in this country unless the military takes over, so people should waste time on politics every time they have the opportunity to address the public" he said.

He said elected leaders were dwelling much on politics to hide their failures in addresing peoples needs and ensuring that government services are delivered.

noco election

Monday, April 18, 2005 11:12 AM

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BY LUKE KAPCHANGA DN/WEBUYE ELECTION 18/4/2005
Former Webuye member of parliament Mr Joash Wa Mangoli has joined the race for the directorship of the Kenya Sugar Board to represent the Nzoia outgrower sugar scheme.

Mr Wa Mangoli is opposing the re-election of the outgoing diretor and also former MP Mr Saulo Busolo on grounds that farmers never benefited from KSB in the past three years.

Mr Wa Mangoli is the Nzoia outgrower company(NOCO) diretor representing district 4 and is upbeat that if elected payment for farmers will improve.
But as the list for the contenders keeps growing by the day farmers are suspicious of aspirants to KSB of people with tainted records, who are associated with corrupt deals in the sugar industry.
Mr Joshua Wepukhulu who is vying for the seat has called on farmers to reject contenders who served whether at Nzoia sugar company or NOCO in various capacities.
He claimed that this were the same people who colluded with corrupt managers to create suffering for farmers by taking loans on behalf of the institutions and failed to service them and leaving the burden to farmers.
He alleged that one of the aspirant imported heavy machinery over ten years ago while he was the chief executive of Nzoia sugar company which is a waste and can not be used.
He said the machinery which was valued at around 2 billion is lying idle at the factory yard and cost the company financial loss.
Speaking at Makhele market ,Mr Wepukhulu challenged former NOCO directors to explain to farmers on the loss of shs.11 million retetion money before seeking to represent them to other offices.
He claimed NOCO directors used farmers money without their knowledge to purchase a condemned house in Bungoma town at an inflated price and can not account for the loss of a tractor which disappeared at the company offices.
On his part Mr Busolo mantains that his record was clean because he tried his best to serve the farmers under difficult circumstances.
He said that the sugar industry is dogged with a multitude of problems and it requires a sober mind to settle them one by one.
He told farmers to be patient as he tries to look for the best formula to solve the problem on non-payment for the delivered crop at the factory and loss of records.
Mr Busolo called of farmers not to be misled about the role of KSB in the sugar industry because it does not deal with individual problems.
Mr Simon Maniafu a farmer defended the performance of Mr Busolo saying that his participation enabled Nzoia sugar company to get a bigger share of shs.300million to clear farmers debts.
He maimtained that no other factory recieved such a bigger amount to pay farmers and the credit should go to the area diretor of KSB for convincing the board aboiut the suffering of his people.
He accused local MPs, Mr Wafula Wamunyinyi of Kanduyi and Mr Sylivester Wakoli of Bumula for misleading farmers that Mr Busolo reduced the price of cane per done to punish them.
"The decision to lower cane price was collective after the KSB sanctioned its pricing committee were Mr Busolo is a member to come out with recomendations," Mr Maniafu said.
He accused the two Mps for goiung round the district to de-campaign the outgoing director mixing politics with sugar issues and inciting the farmers against him.
The other aspirants are Mr Lucas Watta, Sulleiman Murunga, Francis Wabuke,Mr Kikai Wa Mwanja and Mr Wilson Webi.

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doctors strike

Friday, April 22, 2005 4:40 PM

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LUKE KAPCHANGA DN/WEBUYE DOCTORS 22/4/2005
Ninety-one state doctors who are facing the sack have chance to defend themselves against accusations of taking on private patients.
Health permanent secretary Mr Patrick Khaemba said that the normal ministry procedure is to give everybody an opportunity to defend and clear his/her name.

"We have an appeals process for somebody accused to defend him/her self -and the displinary procedure occasionaly takes long," the PS said.

The government he cautioned is to to prosecute health workers who pose as ghosts and whose salaries has been stoped after discovery.
This , Mr Khaemba said is because of the reforms in the health ministry and despite the setbacks created by the impending sacking of doctors more are to be employed to ensure quality services are offered.
Mr Khaemba stated that the ministry had colaborated with the Public Service Commission before stoping the salaries of the affected doctors who faces dismisal.
But the PS was straight foward on the doctors chances of appealing not succeeding because most of them are guilty.
"Our investigations showed that most of them are guilty and knows it and can never dare to challenge the move," Mr Khaemba said.
Health minister Charity Ngilu has ordered inspectors to swoop on private clinics to flush out any state staff working there to face action.
Twenty -nine doctors facing displinary action were found to have taken other jobs while still in government services, and 62 had simply deserted their duties.
Speaking at the opening of Sirare health centre in Sirisia constituency , Bungoma district, Mr Khaemba warned that the government was not going to accomadate doctors and health staffs who cheat on them.
Once the ministry acertain that a doctor, or a nurse is cheating by spending working hours at their private clinics then they will not be spared he insisted.
The ministry he added, had already written to the affected doctors to show cause why they should not be displined after investigations were done.
He however noted that the ministry does not deny doctors to run private clinics if they accept to work for 8 hours in government hospitals.
The PS explained that the government has few doctors who are expected to over better services if they are to stay at their stations for 8 hours which is recommended.
He appealed to members of the public to report doctors and nurses seen at private clinics when they are expected to offer services at government hospitals .
He announced that free mosquito nets are to be distributed in all health centres in the fight against malaria and appealed to mothers to take children for immunisation.
Mr Khaemba who was accompanied ny the assistant minister for foreign affairs and area Mp Mr moses Wetangula , said that the nets are to benefit mothers who take children for immunisation only.
He also said that Hiv/Aids patients will soon start paying shs.100 to get Anti-Retrovirals because they spend a fortune to buy the drugs.

The government he stressed, was working hard to subsidise the cost of ARVS to benefit most of the victims who are poor and feel to have been neglected.

On staffing, he observed that a massive transfer is soon coming to move doctors and nurses to understaffed area of Western &Nyanza provinces.

The staffing imbalances the PS said is the cause of poor service delivery in the two provinces and this is being taken as a priority in the reforms .

security and police brutality

Tuesday, April 19, 2005 10:14 AM

BY LUKE KAPCHANGA DN/WEBUYE SECURITY 16/4/2005
Mr Wafula Murefu went to Webuye police station on January 5 to inquire about the mission and intention of a group of policemen who had gone to his home allegedly looking for suspected gangsters.

Unknowingly Mr Murefu who happened to be in the good books of the police, was told by the officer -in- charge that they were not aware if he is among those on the wanted list. But due to the tension following the cruelity of the gansters for raping women and seriously injuring an assistant chief the police politely requested Mr Murefu to wait while they consult others involved in the investigations.

Later it emerged that the Administration Police attached to the Webuye district officer had gone to Mr Murefus home after getting hint that one of the suspects in the terror attack was his friend and could be found at his home.
He was put in police custody to assist the police with investigations and have the criminals arrested.
Mr Murefu spent 16 days at the police station before appearing in court charged with robbery with violence and he has never been but to defence.
He appears in court at intervals to be reminded of his offence but is not sure when he will defend himself.
The Western Kenya Human Rights Watch now says police in the region are abusing the rights of the suspects by detaining them unlawfully and trump up fake charges.
Mr Job Bwonya the executive director of the lobby group says that in the study carried out from December to March has found that over 380 cases are of arbitrary arrests and victims are detained illegally.
The Director claims police were taking advantage of the current crime wave to abitrarily arrest anybody and fake unbailable charges against the person to extort bribes or torture the suspects to extract confesions.
The lobby group says police stations at Kakamega, Bungoma, Kitale, Busia Webuye, Mumias, Kimilili, Kapsokwony and Malakisi have in their custody suspects who were rounded up after violent raids and robberies but there is no incriminating evidence to take them to court.
The police is accused of being responsible of congestion in the local prisons and increasing arbitrary arrests in the region to coerce affected persons to give out bribes to buy freedom.
The law enforcencement agents are accused of not keeping records of those in the cells when they hold them for up to 20 days without going to court.
Mr Bwonya said that arbitrary arrests and long detentions in police cells are ways used to extract bribes from the suspects and those who fail to raise the demands are charged with trumped up charges which are unbailable but no evidence.
He said the police to rely on confidential informants to trace criminals and thier accomplices are not fool proof and are being abused to purnish the poor by the rich in society.
The police are under presure to proof that they are working hard to contain the spade of robberies as justification of arresting any body they suspect and also hold them in cells without appearing in court on time.
At the sametime members of the public also want to show that they are corporating by giving out names of suspects who could be thier rivals to punish them.
The official maintained that the informants may be themselves criminals or associates of the criminals or at times have personal differences against neighbours and have got a chance to settle the scores.
He claimed well -conected individuals are coloborating with the police to frame thier enemies with criminal acitivities and have them arrested but have no recourse for justice.
He alsoexpressed fear that informants may trade the information for money and they are likely to exploit the situation to commit crimes themselves.
The police are flouting the Universal Declaration of HumanRights article 11, paragraph 1 which reads," Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent unti proved guilty according to the law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees for his defence".
With the crime wave on the increase and the police being constantly put on the spotlight by the public who accuse them of colluding with the thugs in the robberies, the police are not taking chances when following up tips leading to the arrest of suspects.
One of the informants at Webuye who declined to be named , accused the police and senior provincial administrators for colluding with gangsters and use intellengence reports to assist them to avoid arrest.
The informant who had prepared 65 names of suspected criminals in Webuye and the profile of their activities claimed that those who were released on bond after appearing in court have connections with people in charge of security.
He claimed further that one suspect who was arrested after public outcry and is out on bond is a business associate with an adminstrator in Bungoma district were they supply waste paper from Uganda to panpaper mills.
After the arrest of the suspect family members are not immediately told of the where abouts of their relative nor the reasons for the arrest.
A suspect who spent 2 weeks at the Webuye police station before appearing in court, had his family confused and left in desperation when there was no correct informantion on his arrest.
Finally when he appeared in court charged with being linked to robbers with 2 others the court gave him the option of shs.100,000 bond each or be remanded.
The family urge that because they are poor, he was remanded while his co-accused were released after raising the money for the bond but are convinced there is no evidence to confict him of the offence.
The court ask for the land title deed or motor vehicle log book as guarantee for the bond and those able to get them are freed and if they happen to be hardcore criminals then insecurity is not on the decrease when they are out.
According to the HumanRights group the police are failing to inform the suspects of their crimes when being arrested and the charges which are to be preffered upon them.
Mr Bwonya said that the law enforcement agents while exercising their powers to arrest should inform promptly and in detail of the charge against the accused.
The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,.article 9, paragraph 2 states" Anyone who is arrested shall be informed, at the time of arrest, of the reasons for his arrest and shall be informed promptly of any charges against him".
The police were accused of failing to carry out exhaustive investigations in the fight against violent robberies by depending on volunteered information by members of the public which may be maliciuos and at times incorrect.
The purpose of investigation of a crime is to gather evidence, to identify the presumed author of the crime and to present evidence before the a court so that guilt or innocence may be decided.
The fundamental principals derived from international humanrights standdards are for presumption of innocence, entitlement to a fair trail and respect for the dignity, honour and privancy of all persons.
The Bungoma police boss Mr Chris Kago while addresing residents of Ngwelo market on January 14 after they were terrorised by armed gangsters said that they should be frank to expose those behind the crime so that they are taken to court.
Mr Kago was emphantic that no suspect criminals who were in police cells then will go to court unless there was overwhelming and incriminating evidence to confict them is produced by the public.
The OCPD said the police was solely going to depend on information given by the public to fight insecurity and it was upon the residents to participate in colluding with police to give tips on hideouts of the criminals.
The deputy police boss Mr Nelson Okioga dismissed the allegations by the humanrights lobby group on arbitrary arrests as baseless and likely to cause confusion in their fight to curb rising insecurity within the area.
"Police do not hold suspects for more than necessary, if we keep him or her for more than 14 days then there has to be a reason", he said.
Mr Okioga accused the Bungoma based human rights groups for being arrogant and behaving like investigators and in the process interfere with police work.
He complained that the rights activists want to control the police on how investigations should be done when they are not trained in that field.
On releasing suspects on bond, he said that it was the dicreation of the court to give out bonds to the accused and police have no say on the issue.
He said police should not be blamed for issuance of bonds because their duty is to take the suspects to court when there is enough evidence according to the charges.
Trade & Industry minister Dr Mukhisa Kituyi and his local government counter part Mr Musikari Kombo have supported the crackdown on criminal activities in the area saying the government has the capacity to curb rising crime wave .
The ministers have told the police not to release on bond any of the suspects arrested in connection with the raids which have claimed several lives in the district.
Speaking at Naitiri, two weeks ago Dr Kituyi said "the government has the capacity programme & intention to deal sufficiently with the spade of voilence particularly in rural areas".
He said all those rounded up for being key suspects should remain in custody to curb any criminal activities.
While Mr Kombo addressing the public at Muliro gardens in Webuye town appealed for area residents to volunteer information on gangsters saying they are brothers and husbands of those complaining about insecurity .
He said those involved in crime are relatives and friends of the victims as they spy on them during the day and turn against them at night.
"We have to be bold enough to expose the criminals in our midst because they are our children and friends to fight insecurity,".Kombo remarked.
There is concern that those arrested for being suspects with thuggery are not going to get fair trail.
The police are being seen as flouting the ethical rules governing investigations into crimes commited by persons.

Human rights protection demands that for a person to recieve a fair hearing of any charges against him or her, the entire investigation into the crime leading to the charges must be conducted in an ethical manner and in accordance with the legal rules governing investigations.

MINISTER ON ICC

BY   LUKE  KAPCHANGA  THELINK/BUNGOMA                  25/5/2010

Setting up the local tribunal to investigate and try crimes committed during the post election violence, now lies in the fate of the draft constitution.

Minister for housing, Soita Shitanda has noted that, its only by voting for the draft constitution, which will automatically  make it possible to have the tribunal in place.

Parliament he said had previously rejected bills brought in the house to introduce the local tribunal out of fear by MPs for lack of independence.

“MPs were fearing the thin line between the executive and tribunal, as the perpetrators form the executive”, he stated.

He explained that the executive is heavily overbearing on the legislature, and always influences other  arms of government , and this has made leaders uncomfortable with the tribunal if set up.

Yet , the draft constitution if passed, creates independence for tribunals and completely removes the legislature from control of the executive and their roles executed separately .

“The draft if passed will provide a level of confidence in MPs  and be in a position to have the tribunal put up without being indifferent “, the minister further remarked.

May this explain, the spirited efforts by those opposing the new constitution to have it rejected as it provides provisions, which separates the thin line of the executive and legislature?

Two ministers, Moses Wetangula of foreign affairs , and Mutula Kilonzo of Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs, have both supported setting up the local tribunal.

 But, both  are not sure about the time frame, in which the process to have the files on the local tribunal will be opened after rejection by Parliament of two successive bills.

The first bill was sponsored by the government , but rejected by MPs and later Mr. Gitobu Imanyara introduced a private members bill which was also rejected.

The International Criminal Court prosecutor Luis Morenho- Ocampo, has told Kenyans not to expect much from him other than, involving himself with just two cases of six people.

“Do not expect everything from me. I will only prosecute two to six cases and the rest is up to you.” He was quoted saying in one of the daily papers recently..

  The chief prosecutor who asked civil societies to push Parliament to establish a local tribunal also urged leaders to start a mechanism for resolving the cases.

But he was saddened for realizing that the government had not done much to resolve the problems which erupted during the post poll violence of 2007/2008.

The Kenya stakeholders Coalition for the Universal Periodic Review(UPR), highlighted justice for victims of the post- election violence as a matter of concern.

The Coalition  noted on its Human rights Balance sheet to the  UPR, said” It has been almost two and half years since 2007-2008 post –election violence yet none of the perpetrators have been effectively prosecuted”.

It recommended for the government to set up the special tribunal to investigate and prosecute crimes which occurred before, during and after the 2007 general elections in adherence to the principles of the Rome Statute.

The Special Rapporteur on Extre-judicial, summary or Arbitrary executions, has also urged the state to establish the local tribunal to prosecute perpetrators of post- election violence.

The Human rights reports to UPR,  by the government agreed in principle to cooperate with ICC, as efforts to establish a local mechanism to try perpetrators continue.

 

HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSE

BY  LUKE KAPCHANGA         21/8/2010    

 COMMENTARY  ON HUMANRIGHTS VIOLATIONS.(JOURNALIST AND HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER)

Ms Zainab Hamid, mother of Mohammed  Hamid Suleiman who was arrested in connection with the Kampala bombing was photographed screaming and in tears, when she learned that her son could not be produced in the High court.

Suleiman s wife, Ms Zuhura said in her court papers ”it has been more than 24 hours since he was arrested and nobody knows where he is being held”.

Mr. Suleiman was arrested at his South C house in Nairobi  at 10.30pm on 13/8/2010 , and family members had not seen him by Tuesday the following week.

On August 19, the Uganda government confirmed having in their custody a Kenyan terror suspect, Mr. Suleiman since 14/8/2010.

To prevent persons from being unaccounted for, accurate information about the arrest and place of detention, including transfers need to be available without delay to relatives and legal counsels, this according to international humanitarian law.

The right of relatives to information regarding the suspect is an obligation by the State as is recognized under provisions of International Humanitarian Law, human rights law instruments and other international texts

“Living in the dark about the fate of friends and relatives is the harsh reality facing hundreds of thousands of families affected by armed conflict or internal violence. Throughout the World, parents, brothers and sisters, spouses and children desperately seek loved ones with whom they have lost contact”, Jakob Kellenberger , President of the International Crescent of the Red Cross and Anders B. Johnsson, Secretary General of the Inter- Parliamentary Union, writes in the forward in a book, Missing Persons: Handbook for Parliamentarians.

“Their anguish remains acute after the conflict has ended and peace restored. Such unhealed wounds can destroy the fabric of society and undermine the relationships between groups and Nations for decades after the events that caused them”, the forward states further.

Iam not advocating for  the  innocence of, Suleiman and the three others, Hussein Hassan Agade, Idris Magondu and Mohammed Aden Addow the Kenyans who are facing counts of murder, attempted murder and terrorism, in their role played in the twin bomb blasts which killed 76 people in Kampala.

The International humanitarian law- do prohibit terrorism related acts and activities, according to the ABC, of Human rights handbook.

As it notes  that terrorist acts attack  fundamental human rights, urging States not only to have the right but indeed the duty to protect the population from such acts.

The handbook gives the guideline, that Anti-terrorism strategies must comply with provisions of International Humanitarian Law, the International Refuge Convention and Human rights Conventions.

Except when the State is confronted with an exceptional life threatening situation such as direct terrorist threat, then it may suspend certain rights.

And in such situation again, the state authority is reminded to oblige to follow the prescribed procedures , to ensure    that any measures taken respect the principles of proportionality and are of brief duration.

The Kenyan authorities action of giving a helping hand in the fight against terrorism in the region is commendable, but should the government violate International Humanitarian Law to promote peace and law, at the same time?

The basic rights demands that, persons deprived of their liberty, whether interned or detained, shall have the right   to inform any person with legitimate interest, such as close family members or legal counsel.

The suspect at minimum , should inform about the arrest, the location they are being detained, and their state of health.

They are also  authorized to communicate with and be visited by family members, counsel or any other person of their choice, subject only to condition established by law.

Further more, for the suspect to be moved from his location of detention, the spouse, a close relative or any other person with legitimate interest is notified.

Under Humanitarian law and Human rights law, relatives of the suspect have the right to know, the truth regarding the circumstances of the arrest, detention or internment, the progress and results of investigations and fate of victim.

Human rights laws are of perception, that domestic laws and regulations should ensure that persons deprived of their liberty, whatever the reason of their internment or detention, have a right to inform their families, of their arrest, address and state of health and adequate means of communication to be provided.

Am not aware if Kenya is signatory to The International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance2006.

The Convention is the first universal treaty to define  and prohibit enforced disappearance, which is being”, the abduction or detention of a person by agents of the State followed by concealment of the fate or whereabouts of the disappeared person, outside the protection of the law”.

The Convention has prevention safeguards against disappearance, allowing suspects to communicate with family members.

Kenya is not at war nor experiencing internal conflict,  to have state agents, abducting suspects, keeping families in darkness about the victims, and extraditing them without using the right procedures.

The Geneva Conventions of August  12 1949, article 48 on prisoners of war says, “ in the event of transfer,  prisoners of war  shall be officially advised of their departure and of their new postal address. Such notifications shall be given in time for them to pack their luggage and inform their next of kin”

This is the Convention which came about to address human value in the face of adversity following the mass slaughter of World war two, yet it was able to recognize the right of prisoners of war .

In Kenya as we ready ourselves in welcoming the second republic, the accountability of state agents to the wananchi remains a far cry, and respect for human rights frowned upon.

Having Kenyans extradited to Uganda, is plausible, but only if the rule of law is uphold, and international instruments on human rights are respected.

 

 

 

MAIZE SEED SCARCITY

BY LUKE KAPCHANGA KITALE

MAIZE SEED SCARCITY TO CREATE FOOD INSECURITY :

The disappearance of  maize seed  on the market, spells danger.

There was a general outcry by farmers as planting season arrived, as they could not find farm implements on the market.

More painful to farmers was shortage of maize seed, which does well in their respective regions.

“Lack of required support from the government and unreliable rainfall is the major cause of seed shortage in the country”, remarked Samuel Nyongi Chumo

Chumo who says, has been a contracted maize seed farmer for the past 10 years, adds, “ farmers are on their own, the agriculture people have no idea what farmers want, at what time and in what quantity”.

Inspecting the maize seed crop, he displays dissatisfaction the way it is doing, complaining that he was not able to feed enough.

“When you stand here, the maize speaks do you that we have eaten but not satisfied , which can be translated into less production”, he says.

He explained that it was no longer profitable to be a contracted maize seed farmer , with the state corporation Kenya seed company.

He says lack of farm inputs at the required time, has forced more farmers to move out of framing and nobody seem to be aware.

This sentiments were supported by John Wafula 64, of Mautuma in Lugari district, who says he gave up planting after failing to get farm implements on time.

“The ministry of agriculture is dysfunctional .It has no working plan and most of the extension officers themselves go hungry”, he said.

Wafula , said he abandoned planting his two acre plot, when he could not find fertilizers and seeds, after spending considerable money in land preparation.

Chumo who grows 100 acres of maize seed, mostly on leased plots of land, accuse the government of not having any plans to ensure that the implements are available on time.

Reacting to the seed shortage outcry, Chumo who is one of the prominent farmers in Trans-Nzoia county, supported fears of low yields this year, which will worsen the vicious cycle of food insecurity.

Kenya seed company is mandated to avail certified seed to farmers, and controls almost 80% of the market share in the country.

For the past 10 years, Mr. Chumo has been a farmer, he has never seen an agricultural extension officer on his farm.

“As a matter of fact, I do not know this extension officers, and their work”. He complained.

He dismissed the reports by ministry of agriculture , saying farmers are never consulted nor their views sought, now anything to do with the reports must of 20 years ago.

Because, he maintained , the fertilizer can not be supplied in April when planting was done in late February.

“To prove it, this is May, yet fertilizer for top dressing is not on the market and when you go to this agriculture offices you will be told that we are arranging to bring”.

This can only be jokers not government experts, because they do not understand what is required to improve the food security in the country.

Another issue, is subdivision of land which used to produce maize seed into small plots for settlement.

The government he notes, should get involved to assist families not to subdivide the land, knowing that it becomes uneconomical for seed production.

At Amogoro farm, where use leases out 50 acres to plant maize seed, most of his colleagues have pulled out due to frustrations and lack of support.

Most of the framers lack access to loan facilities, and when available the process is frustrating to endure.

One farmer who declined to be named, claimed that, Kenya seed company, is slow in processing payments to contracted farmers, hence making them unable to pay for the services rendered on the farm.

The seed company is accused of not being open, and staffs giving wrong information at times, and can take upto 6 months to get paid after delivering the products.

Evalyne Nakhungu 48, on her 2 acre piece of land in Webuye, is not bothered by out cry of maize seed shortage.

The mother of 9 and 5 grand children all depending on the farm for food production, says she plants the preserved seeds from the previous harvest.

“After every harvest , I chose the best cobs, which I preserve as seed, and it very simple and I have no time for this hybrid things”, she said.

Adding that , she can not change her favorite variety, locally called NO.8, her problem was geeting fertilizer.

This year , Nakhungu plantedmaize without fertilizer, and standing on the farm, a section of the maize was flowering, and most of the crop, just under the knee.

When asked about the difference in height, she attributed it to the rains.

With the fast planting after the rains, germination was not good, and after some waiting, she decided to replace.

To curb it all, she has never seen an extension officer on her farm nor any assistance from the government .

In April , the Kenya seed company said that it has put in place measures to ensure that seed shortage does not occur again.

The company said mitigation measures included expanding production through irrigation, building of strategic seed reserves and offering incentives to framers and had increased area under seed production to 40,000acres up from 20,000 acres.

It however assured framers of having sufficient maize seed for medium, dry land and coastal zones.

Seed shortages which sparked fears of low yields, was lack of favorite varieties missing on markets, as farmers were waiting to be supplied with the right type.

In places like Central province, farmers were ready to plant yet the available seeds were not appropriate for the region, and there was no professional advice.

Maize is the overwhelming national staple crop in Kenya. It is a predominant crop grown across most livelihoods, even in agro-ecological zones that are not suitable for production.

According to the ministry of agriculture, area put under maize is about 1.8million hectares annually. The long rains season is the most important with respect to maize production, accounting for 85% of the annual maize output.

The forecast on maize production for 2011 by the ministry puts a shortfall in output.

An estimated 2.8mllion metric tones of maize is expected to be harvested during the year 2010/2011 production season.

Making the cumulative output below the short term average of about 3.0million metric tones, against annual consumption estimated to be 3.4million metric tones.

The ministry’s planning is pecked on hope that the shortfall will be covered by carryover stock and cross boarder imports through June.

The government , while addressing underlying factors causing food insecurity in the country, puts emphasis on faring activity in pastoral and marginal agricultural areas.

Prevalence of HIV/AIDS , is also mentioned as an underlying factor among farmers and Lakeshore districts for being subjected to floods, which limits investments in productive activities.

On extension services, the ministry has the directorate of National Agricultural Sector Extension Policy( NASEP), whose role to achieve efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery.

The extension services policy, is said to adopt performance management practices, which are result oriented, participatory and innovative.

The services include collecting, packaging and disseminating agricultural information and technology to farmers .Farmers are required to participate in decision making and provide feedbacks.

This participation is what Chumo , complains is lacking and their concerns are not sought to have farm implements’ supplied before land preparation starts.

In early May, the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Cooperatives pointed an accusing finger at former managers of the seed company for causing the shortage.

The committee chairman John Mututho, said that former management had reduced the production of basic seed maize by 50% resulting in the shortage.

Mututho maintained ,revealed that over 20,000 metric tones of seed maize was sold as commercial maize between 2008/2009.

Another 27million metric tones of strategic seed reserve was sold to Rwanda and Southern Sudan, allegedly without express consultations with ministry officials.