Kenya’s President Places KMC Under Military Control

In respect to an order from President Uhuru Kenyatta, the Agriculture Cabinet Secretary in Kenya, Mr. Peter Munya has directed Livestock Principal Secretary Harry Kimtai to facilitate the transfer of Kenya Meat Commission (KMC) to the Ministry of Defence.

“Following the transfer of ministerial responsibility of the Kenya Meat Commission to the Ministry of Defence by the President, you are directed to facilitate a seamless transfer of Kenya Meat Commission to the Ministry of Defence,” the memo reads in part.

KMC has been struggling with problems with inadequate funds for some time now and had ended up failing to pay up farmers for their deliveries. The firm will now be run by the Kenyan military in a move aimed at boosting its operations and ensuring survival.

The commission charged with the responsibility of processing meat has over a long period been experiencing an unreliable supply of raw material hence registering a slow production process. Despite receiving about 200 animals per day in their Athi-River based plant, KMC only manages to slaughter the same number in a week.

The CS also directed KMC Managing Commissioner James Ole Seriani to submit a report to him in 14 days on progress made.

The government had earlier on revealed their interest in revamping the firm before selling it to a private business person. In June, the Ministry of Agriculture announced that the state had set aside 80 million shillings for the plant’s upgrade. This is the second batch in a span of two years following the release of 190 million shillings by the Treasury for its renovation in the last financial year.

KMC is among 26 other state corporations which have been earmarked for privatization. Under this plan, the state had in 2016 set aside 680 million shillings to aid the process of laying off workers.