Uhuru Moves Kenya Meat Commission to Defense Ministry

The Kenya Meat Commission (KMC) has been placed under the Ministry of Defense following an order by President Kenyatta. 

The order for the transfer KMC from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock to the Defense Ministry was revealed in a memo dated Monday, September 7th.

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya through the memo asked Livestock PS Harry Kimtai to facilitate seamless transfer of the Commission to the Defense ministry. 

Kimtai is required to submit a report to CS Munya in 14 days on the progress made on the transfer. The memo was copied to KMC Managing Commissioner James Ole Seriani. 

“Following the transfer of Ministerial responsibility of Kenya Meat Commission to the Ministry of Defense by the President, you are directed to facilitate a seamless transfer of KMC to the Ministry of Defense,” the memo states.

“Ensure that you coordinate the entire exercise with the National Treasury and transfer the associated budgets at the next scheduled supplementary budgets.” 

KMC, a State-owned meat processor, is operating below capacity and is struggling with huge debts, unreliable supply of raw materials, and an aging plant.

The Commission in its latest financial report indicated that it sold products worth Sh127.5 million in the nine months ended March 2019.

It also has a debt amounting to Sh1.1 billion including livestock farmers’ dues of Sh254.4 million, and Sh300 million owed to the government.

KMC runs on a Sh20 million budget per month comprising Sh10 million for salaries and Sh4 million for electricity.

Livestock PS Kimtai defended the transfer of KMC to the Defense Ministry, saying “the Kenya Defense Force and the military will form one of our Buy Kenya, Build Kenya strategy where KMC will supply meat to the armed forces. The reorganization will help in the management and ease of things."