Agriculture Cabinet Secretary nominee Andrew Karanja has told the National Assembly Committee on Appointments that he is worth Kes 214 million.
Appearing before the committee chaired by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula, Karanja disclosed that the amount includes residences, apartments, vehicles, and deposits in various banks.
Further, he dismissed rumors concerning his relationship with former Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi following assertions that he previously worked as his assistant.
“This one caught me by surprise. For the record Mr Speaker sir and honourable members, I have never met the former minister for Agriculture and I have never been a PA,” he said.
Karanja insisted that his vast experience serving in different departments in the Ministry of Agriculture has propelled his nomination to the docket.
He also revealed that he has served as an extension officer in Baringo, where he commenced his career, and has worked in the planning department within the Agriculture Ministry, where he served under different Ministers.
In 2016, he was appointed to the coffee sector task force whose mandate was to review the entire coffee value chain and identify areas requiring interventions such as production, processing, and marketing of coffee; examine the existing policy, institutional, legislative, and administrative structures.
“I have worked in the coffee sector for long and I know what the farmers need in terms of the policy to be implemented so that farmers can enjoy what they need to enjoy,” he said.
Karanja holds a PhD in Development Economics and Policy from Wageningen University, Netherlands, a Certificate in development-oriented Research in Agriculture, and a Master of Agricultural Economics from the University of Nairobi.
