The Minister of Agriculture is facing a censure motion in parliament today for his role in the recent maize scandal where more than one million bags of maize from the National Cereals and Produce Board have disappeared (NCPB). MP Dr. Bonny Khalwale has moved the motion accusing the Agriculture minister of failing to give satisfactory answers over the disappearance.
 
The scandals come in the wake of a drought where 10 million Kenyans could be facing starvation. A number of people in the north-eastern province of Kenya have died as a direct consequence of the famine. Several Kenyans have been taking to the streets over the past two months to protest over the multiple scandals associated with Kenya’s coalition government. George Nyongesa, an active spokesperson for justice in Kenya says, “We need the government to know that they have failed to treat hunger and starvation. Parliament and government of Kenya especially President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila must know that we the people, are not going to allow those who have created hunger that will kill 10 million Kenyans to continue enjoying public office.
 
The three activists Patrick Kamotho, Philo Ikonya and Fwamba Chrispus who have been beaten are currently being held at the Central Police Station with no charges. Several other well known activists
including former deputy of Transparency International and his wife Jayne Mati and several members of PEN International have been outside the station for several hours waiting to hear the charges. The two were among 50 Kenyans arrested in December for wearing t-shirts demanding Kenyan MPs to pay taxes and to implement the Waki Report which would ultimately see several politicians being brought to trial for their possible involvement in the ethnic based murders during the post election crises in January 2008. Mati and his wife were retained for over 48 hours with no charges.
 
Some other protesters are still around the parliament buildings though scattered and the police are still on the chase to arrest the rest of the group members. “Today's activity is a test drive of many other sporadic activities that we are mounting across the country through our networks. Our message shall target President Kibaki, Prime Minister and anyone who is a beneficiary of their failed leadership,” says Nyongesa, spokesperson for Bunge La Mwananchi.
 
For More Information Contact:
 
Dipesh Pabari, Tel: 0733989082, Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
George Nyongesa, Tel: 0720451235, Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
 
Background Information available on:
Bunge La Wananchi
Mars Group Kenya
Sukuma Kenya