Three MPs, 49 MCAs yet to pay for goats they bought at auction

Deputy President William Ruto (left) during the Kimalel Goat Auction in Baringo County last year. [photo: file/standard]

Farmers are yet to be paid one-and-a-half months after high-profile people bought their livestock at the Kimalel Goat Auction.

Three MPs and 49 Members of County Assembly (MCAs) have not paid for the goats.

The buyers, mainly politicians, professionals and businessmen, allegedly bought the 1,960 goats from farmers drawn from across Baringo County last year.

But several farmers are now claiming that they were conned.

Nicholas Cheruiyot from Kamar village in Mogotio said he sold 19 goats but is yet to be paid Sh228,000.

“My children have been forced to stay at home due to lack of school fees and the county looks unmoved,” said the bitter farmer.

In Mogotio sub-county alone, 231 goats worth over Sh2.5 million were distributed to various buyers without proper records.

Willing Buyers

During the auction in December last year, Deputy President William Ruto, who was the chief guest, announced that a record Sh24 million was raised in less than 10 minutes. Farmers were told they would access their money through their respective banks and Saccos before December 25.

Three months later, hundreds of frustrated farmers have emerged claiming that they were never paid.

Some have visited the county headquarters only to be sent back with empty promises.

County executive in charge of Trade Wesly Keitany confirmed that several politicians had not deposited money amounting to millions as agreed.

“The county was faced with difficulties on how to dispose of the extra goats and had to dish them out to unwilling buyers with arrangements that they would pay later,” said Keitany.

He said tracing most of the buyers was difficult and urged the affected farmers in Mogotio, Eldama Ravine, to be patient.

Baringo County Women Representative Grace Kiptui took home 40 goats worth Sh500,000. She was among the politicians who allegedly called the county promising to settle the debt.

“We are in talks with the county. We have agreed with those responsible to give me a few days and things will be sorted out,” said Kiptui.

Others include Baringo North MP William Cheptumo (Sh500,000), Senator Kipchumba Murkomen of Elgeyo/Marakwet County (Sh300,000) and Kenya Power director Susan Chesiyna (Sh20,000).

Proper Rules

Murkomen said there was confusion on how the debt would be settled. He said he will pay the county government.

Chesiyna said she had made arrangements with the county to clear the debt.

According to a statement from Keitany the county had decided to pay the farmers irrespective of whether the buyers have paid or not.

Last Friday, MCAs sharply disagreed on the procedure to apply to collect Sh1,176,000 for 98 goats allocated to them during the well-attended public auction.

However, Baringo County Assembly finance chairman Zacharia Kipkuto criticised the criteria used to distribute the goats, saying forcing unwilling people to buy goats amounts to suffocating the entire activity.

He said unless proper rules are developed, it would be better off for farmers to look for buyers at home instead of giving them to rich people for free.

“It’s true that Deputy President William Ruto told each MCA to pick two goats and that the money be deducted by the payroll master. But the sad information is that none of the MCAs went home with the goats and we are not aware who took them,” he alleged.