‘You’ll be jobless after one year,’ Junet warns Agriculture CS nominee Dr. Andrew Karanja

Suna East Member of Parliament Junet Mohamed has cautioned Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary nominee Dr. Andrew Mwihia Karanja to be cautious of perceived ‘cartels’ within the ministry, should he be appointed to the position, lest he finds himself out on the streets within one year.

According to Mohamed, who is a member of Parliament’s Committee on Appointments, malicious characters have operated in the shadows within the ministry for years, swaying deals their own way at the expense of the downtrodden Kenyan farmers.

The MP noted that these characters, who have come to be known as ‘cartels’ within government circles, have always gotten away with these crimes, leaving the Agriculture ministers to bear the cross for their actions.

He cited instances under which past office holders have been fired due to scandals orchestrated by these faceless characters, including the immediate former Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi who was part of the Cabinet that was disbanded by President William Ruto last month, but was not reinstated despite some of his colleagues making their way back.

Mohamed, hence cautioned Dr. Karanja, that if he’s not careful enough and does not prudently deal with the said cartels, then he might meet the same fate sooner than he might imagine possible.

“The biggest problem in this country, in terms of when we approve people here and in terms of governance, is the Ministry of Agriculture; there have been problems over the last 5/7 years I was in Parliament, from the previous ministers to the one that we approved here who had 30 cases, plus now the PhD holder who has arrived here,” said Mohamed.

“I want this nominee to prove to this committee how he’s going to deal with these cartels and this corruption in Agriculture. Because if we were to describe corruption in government in form of a home, the bedroom of corruption in government is the Ministry of Agriculture; the rest are sitting rooms, servant quarters, and other small places.”

He added: “Having a PhD and dealing with corruption are two different things, and that’s one thing I want him to illustrate – even physically if he can – how he’s going to deal with corrupt people in that place. If you can prove that for me, I’ll be satisfied, because I know after one year you’ll be walking jobless in the streets, I can assure you.”

Dr. Karanja, on his part, sought to assure the lawmaker and Kenyans at large that, if approved by the committee for the position, then he will make it his primary mission to put the cartels “out of business.”

He assured the vetting panel that, throughout his life and career in public service, he has always prided himself on integrity, and will not start losing it now just for the benefit of a few individuals at the expense of a large civilian populace.

“I know dealing with cartels is a big issue, and there are many formats and very many forms, but if I’m approved by this House and this committee, I’m saying I’m giving a notice on cartels. Notice that they will be out of business, with the fact that one of the principles which I hold very dear is integrity – not to be compromised,” said the CS nominee.

“The other principle which I hold very dear is having the country’s and the farmers’ interests at heart, so I will deal with them. We will do whatever it takes to deal with them; putting systems in place, governance structures, making sure that I involve all the agencies of the government. I’m sure the government of Kenya is capable, and has agencies, which can deal with these cartels, and I will be on the forefront.”