Africa-Press – Kenya. President William Ruto has made an about-turn and transferred the Kenya Meat Commission (KMC) to the Ministry of Defence.
The Commission has been under the Ministry of Agriculture since last year November when Ruto reversed a decision by his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta to place it under the management of Defence.
Executive Order No.1 of January 6, 2023, placed the meat processor under the State Department of Livestock Development with the military only managing operations at the commission’s facilities.
The latest changes are contained in Executive Order No.2 of November 2.
“The Executive Order No. 2 of 2023 supersedes Executive Order No. 1 of 2023 issued on 6th of January, 2023,” reads the notice issued by head of public service Felix Koskei.
The new order according to Koskei incorporates into the organization of governance structure changes occasioned by new laws enacted by Parliament.
Uhuru moved the commission to Defence in 2020 in what was seen as a move to rescue it from collapsing and boost its operations.
At the time, the commission was grappling was a huge debt that stood at Sh1.1 billion including livestock farmers’ dues of Sh254.4 million and outstanding payroll deductions totaling Sh144 million as of 2019.
In June 2020, the government announced that it would pump Sh80 million towards the upgrade of the factory in the following financial year as it planned to sell it to an investor.
A memo dated September 7, 2020, by the then Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya directed former livestock principal secretary Harry Kimtai to transfer the ministerial responsibility to the Ministry of Defence.
“Following the transfer of Ministerial responsibility of Kenya Meat Commission to the Ministry of Defence by the President, you are directed to facilitate a seamless transfer of KMC to the Ministry of Defence,” the memo read.
Munya further directed the PS to ensure coordination of the entire exercise with the National Treasury and transfer the associated budgets to the next scheduled Supplementary Budget.
The Athi River plant was formed in 1950 through an act of Parliament.
Its main objective is to provide a ready market for livestock farmers and quality meat and meat products to consumers.
For More News And Analysis About Kenya Follow Africa-Press
