Nyandarua County Governor Moses Kiarie Badilisha has called on reviewing of the 50kg potato packaging law by parliament so that it is enforced uniformly by all counties.
This is after he revealed that the county security agencies from Nyandarua were directed to arrest traders transporting potato packaged in over 50 kg bags.
Badilisha who was speaking during Mashujaa Day celebration in Ndaragwa in Nyandarua County said the directive will make potato farmers in Nyandarua suffer as the potato buyers will relocate to other counties.
“Farmers in Nyandarua County will suffer when it enforces the law yet its neighbours are not doing it,” noted Badilisha.
However, he called upon the Parliament to review and amend the potato packaging law to have potato sold in kilograms as per need like other food crops.
On illicit brews and counterfeit beer, which has caused several deaths in Mt. Kenya region, the governor wondered how ethanol, which is a protected product is finding its way into the hands of unscrupulous people who are using it to prepare illicit brews.
He called upon the security officers to fast track its source and bring to book the unscrupulous individuals engaged in the manufacture and sale of the illicit brews.
On status of Ndaragwa as a town which lies in a gazetted forest, Badilisha called upon the government to degazzette the forest where the town lies, so as to allow ownership of the land hence facilitate development of the town.
Nyandarua County Commissioner Abdirisack Jaldesa said there was need for cooperation between all potato stakeholders so that no side, including farmers, gets unfair treatment when enforcing the 50kg rule.
The County Commissioner who read the President’s speech declared that the National Government Administrative Officers (NGAOs) and security agencies will continue to fight against illicit brews and drugs.
He further pointed out that crackdown on illicit brews was under way saying intelligence had shown some people in the County were preparing the brews in their backyard and in the bush.
“They are mixing ethanol in their backyard, I direct chiefs to be vigilant in their areas of jurisdiction,” Jaldesa said.
He added that it is not good when members of public raid such brewing dens before the relevant authorities act.
By Kimani Tirus
