New allegations have surfaced implicating Mithika Linturi, the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock, in a controversy involving the coercion of an official to misrepresent facts in the fake fertilizer scandal. The Chief Operations Officer of Kel Chemicals, Devesh Patel, has detailed incidents of pressure and manipulation from high-ranking officials aiming to distort the events surrounding the supply of substandard fertilizer to the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB).
Devesh Patel reported these coercive tactics in a letter to the Director of Criminal Investigations, Mohamed Amin. Represented by lawyers Dennis Mosota and Ahmedinasir Abdullahi, Patel outlines a series of interactions with government officials who allegedly attempted to force him to take responsibility for the compromised quality of the fertilizer.
Chronology of Coercive Attempts:
- On April 4th, 2024, Joseph Kimote of NCPB contacted Patel urging him to prepare a written statement following a press release about the recall of 3,000 bags of fertilizer. Subsequent calls from other NCPB officials echoed this demand.
- On April 7th, while at Kel Chemicals’ plant in Thika with DCI officers, Patel received over 30 calls within an hour from various officials, insisting he attend a press release to publicly assume responsibility for the fertilizer’s quality issues.
- On April 10th, CS Linturi directly intervened, pressing Patel to confirm his attendance at a press conference where he was to publicly accept blame for the fertilizer issue.
- On April 12th, following Patel’s refusal to comply with these demands, Linturi conducted a raid on Kel Chemicals’ facilities, subsequently shutting them down and declaring them a crime scene.
Patel’s refusal to bend to the pressure led to a series of retaliatory actions by the government officials, culminating in his arrest and detention under duress, where he was coerced into writing a statement that implicated his company in the distribution of defective fertilizer.
These revelations were further discussed during Patel’s appearance before the National Assembly’s Agriculture Committee, where he expanded on his ordeal, including details of a high-stakes meeting with senior public servants and his subsequent arrest. His testimony highlighted the aggressive tactics used by officials, including threats to shut down Kel Chemicals and punitive actions without due process.
The allegations expose a troubling picture of government overreach and corruption, prompting calls for a thorough investigation into the conduct of CS Linturi and other implicated officials. Patel and his legal team have submitted call logs and other evidence to support their claims, urging a reassessment of the legal actions taken against them.
This scandal not only questions the integrity of government operations in the agricultural sector but also underscores the challenges businesses face when government officials abuse their power. The ongoing investigations are expected to shed more light on these allegations and determine the accountability of those involved.
