MP Kosgey warns land, fertiliser cartels 'eating the nation's soul'

Nominated MP Jackson Kosgei at PrideInn Paradise Beach resort in Mombasa. [Omondi Onyango, Standard]

Nominated MP Jackson Kosgey has painted a grim picture of the country, saying the fertiliser scandal, increased cases of road accidents and cartels purporting to be agents of State officers were eating at the soul of the nation.

Kosgey, who is the bishop of Worldwide Church, was speaking at Pride Inn Paradise Beach Resort in Mombasa. The bishop said there was a “systematic breakdown of the rule of law that has emboldened vicious cartels operating between the Ministry of Lands, Attorney General’s office, and Registrar of Companies.”

“We are witnessing a new phenomenon in the country where cartels masquerade as representatives of powerful people in government to steal or extort unsuspecting Kenyans and foreigners,” he said.

Kosgey said it was a shame that cartels had infiltrated the agricultural sector during the planting season. He warned that the fake fertiliser had the potential to worsen food insecurity in the country.

“I’m appealing to the government and especially the Ministry of Agriculture to take the fake fertiliser scandal seriously. It would be disastrous for the nation to make farmers feel that some unscrupulous people who are undermining the country’s food production are more powerful than the government.

“On behalf of the farming community, we cannot tolerate someone from the ministry posing as someone representing certain powerful people to threaten the country’s food security. No one is more powerful than the citizens of this nation and their president,” he said.

He added: “These others are just cartels intimidating government officers to find a way of importing fake fertiliser. The country’s law enforcement offices should swing into action with speed; they should hear the outcry of the nation.”

Kosgey said the country was waiting to see whether those behind the fake fertiliser would be brought to book. He also claimed to have fallen victim to the cartels that were falsifying documents.

“Details of companies and organisations owned by Kenyans and foreign investors in the country are being altered by cartels masquerading as agents of powerful State officers. They change the company’s ownership so that they can access the properties. They appear to have proxies in the Registrar of Companies who help them,” he claimed.

Kosgey said the ball was squarely in Attorney General Justin Muturi’s court. “I’m asking the AG to protect officers in his office from cartels because, as I speak, some families are losing their properties acquired in the 1960s or 70s.

“These cartels do not spare anyone. Some current and former MPs are victims. I have experience with these vicious cartels. Some of my companies were tampered with, and when I checked I discovered I was not alone,” he said.

Kosgey said he had decided to speak out because Kenyans were “suffering in silence”. “I am a victim of the cartels who changed my land documents, which I managed to get back after going to court.

“I am appealing to the Director of Criminal Investigations to arrest the situation and stop these cartels masquerading as representatives of the owners of the properties and have them sold,” said the cleric.

On the ongoing medics strike, Kosegy said that the doctors’ message was clear but urged them to consider the plight of patients.

“Kenyans have heard you. However, the pain of losing patients in a situation that could have been salvaged cannot be morally justified by a push for better terms and pay. Ordinarily, health services are essential services. It is like the military protecting the country against a powerful adversary. So we must put the country above personal interests,” he said.