President Uhuru Kenyatta was on Thursday caught on tape in a heated moment, warning Agriculture CS Mwangi Kiunjuri over irregular payments made to maize cartels through the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB).
Speaking during the Nairobi International Trade Fair on September 4, 2018, President Kenyatta swore before God to punish ministry officials, if they failed to pay maize farmers, who had supplied grains to the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB).
The rare moment of anger was caught as President Kenyatta exited the dais after speaking during the Nairobi Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK) Show at Jamhuri Grounds.
A visible angry Kenyatta walked to Kiunjuri, pointed at him and warned him in Kikuyu “Mungiriha ni mukuona” loosely translated to “if you dare make the payments, you will face the music“.
Kiunjuri reacted by clasping his hands, suggesting he had received the message, as he looked away from the President’s direction – feigning a faint smile.
The head of state had in his speech, decried the behavior of NCPB officials who paid wealthy cartels while ordinary farmers were left high and dry.
“The money meant to pay maize farmers was in the budget last year, and we know it is the people at the NCPB who – instead of paying farmers that toiled on their farms for maize to sell in order to educate their children – went and paid a few wealthy individuals and traders and ran out of money to pay the hardworking farmers.”
“I promise you, and I swear before God, try that again and you will see what is going to happen to you. We have seen what you did and we will come after those responsible,” Kenyatta said.
Here’s the video
I can't exactly get what @UKenyatta said here but he appears to be angrily pointing at CS Mwangi Kiunjuru while uttering some emotive words in Kikuyu over the corruption at NCPB. Things will actually be thick for the NCPB cartels. pic.twitter.com/vUu2ltnp0T
— Bobby (@Bob_Odhiambo) October 5, 2018