Individuals behind the purchase of a poor quality rice milling machine will be prosecuted, assistant minister Danson Mungatana has said.

The equipment, bought for the Tana and Athi River Development Authority (Tarda) in Garsen, was bought at a cost of Sh500 million although it was found to be unproductive, said Mr Mungatana of the Office of the President.

Although the Government planned to revive the multimillion-shilling plant to help improve the economic status of the region, action would be taken against those who had led to its collapse.

Speaking at Wema village in Garsen, where he toured various development projects, Mr Mungatana urged farmers to grow more rice to discourage importation.

He pledged to ensure the authority’s workers were paid salary arrears of more than Sh3.7 million.

Mr Mungatana said he would also ensure that the more than 480 tonnes of rice in stock were sold before the end of the month.

He appealed to residents to intensify the cultivation of amaranth (terere), a new vegetable in the area introduced by Tarda in the area, to help boost the region's economy. He said the crop had a ready market in Europe and other parts of the world.

Tarda managing director Moses Kiplagat said extensive cultivation of terere would help to turn-around the economic status of the district.

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