Thread by @RobertAlai

So I need to tel you about the Locust Spraying and how the govt officers are using the menace to loot the coffers.

It’s a very simple story with high risks since the looters are in the Agriculture and Interior ministries. #Thread

When the CS Kiunjuri reaches out to aviation operators (mostly wazungus with light aircrafts in Nanyuki) to help contain the menace, the operators agreed that the menace was of concern to them and they’d agree on a standard fee.

Operators agreed that a standard fee of Ksh 60,000 ($600) per hour per flight would be paid to each of the operators fighting the locusts.

Govt officers whose departments deal with the issue and the county officers (CECs and some governors) insisted that the fee was "too low."

With the counties involved, the fee was raised to $1,800 (Ksh 180,000) to $2,000 (Ksh 200,000) depending on the operator hired and county involved.

Now the standard fee tripled. Operators were also told to dilute the spray being used to make the operation last longer

The operators are mostly wazungus in Nanyuki and they feel guilty and scared that this is really happening and if the facts leak, they'd look dishonest.

So they are complaining quietly.

So kuna manung'uniko among the operators that the govt is paying Ksh 180k - 200k per hour but they are being paid Ksh 60k per hour while if the authorities get to act, it's the aviation operators who will pay the price and get charged.

"CS Agriculture and CS Interior are aware" so be careful. I haven't confirmed this but the operators say they are aware.

We should be careful in the usage of resources not careful in unmasking theft.

Hapa ni Rumuruti towards Maralal. Basically, the govt is getting charged for the job which is not yielding any positive results.

Only senior county and central govt officials are benefiting.

The operators are spraying the locusts with diluted version of Dursban chemical while Fenitrothion is the recommended chemical for spraying.