Koskei picks familiar faces to set up fresh structures in agriculture body

Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Cabinet Secretary Felix Koskei during a Press briefing on July 3, 2014. Mr Koskei, said the appointments are expected to last for three months during which the officers would set up structures. PHOTO | SALATON NJAU  

In Summary

• The food crops directorate has been placed under Ms Chebii Kilel while the interim managing trustee for Commodity Fund will be managed by Ms Nancy Chelangat.
• Mr Grenville Kiplimo who served as deputy managing director of Nyayo Tea Zones will take charge of the coffee directorate.

By NATION CORRESPONDENT
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The bid to reform farming has been put to question following the ministry of Agriculture’s move to retain old faces at the helm of a newly created watchdog.

 

A week after the ministry unveiled the various directorates under the Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Authority that will take over from the current regulators, the ministry has named its bosses.

The acting managing director of the ailing Pyrethrum Regulatory Authority, Mr Alfred Busolo, will head the new body.

Briefing the press at the ministry’s office at Kilimo House, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary, Mr Felix Koskei, said the appointments are expected to last for three months during which the officers would set up structures.

“We asked for extension for the establishment of the authority in July last year. We will not wait any longer because the authority has to function,” Mr Koskei said.

ROSMARY MKOK

The sugar directorate will be headed by Ms Rosemary Mkok, a former Kenya Sugar Board boss while Ms Elizabeth Kimenyi will be the interim head of the tea directorate.

Mr Grenville Kiplimo who served as deputy managing director of Nyayo Tea Zones will take charge of the coffee directorate.

The pyrethrum arm has been put under Mr Solomon Odera who previously served as sugar fund manager.

Mr Zakayo Magara will head the horticulture crops directorate. He has been the acting managing director at the Tea Board of Kenya for the last one year.
Acting managing director of Cotton Development Authority, Mr Anthony Mureithi, will steer the fibre crops directorate.

Nuts and oil crops directorate will be run by Mr Raymond Kahindi who has been the acting chief executive at Coconut Development Authority.

The food crops directorate has been placed under Ms Chebii Kilel while the interim managing trustee for Commodity Fund will be managed by Ms Nancy Chelangat.

The appointments are likely to elicit negative reactions given that they are familiar faces in the industry.