Nairobi — The Government has ordered for the formation of a committee to oversee the revival of the collapsed Mwea Rice Irrigation Settlement Scheme.

The team would comprise officials from the National Irrigation Board, Ministry of Co-operatives and the Mwea Rice Growers Multipurpose Co-operative Society.

Issuing the directive during a fact-finding tour of the scheme, Cabinet Minister Njeru Ndwiga said the government would ensure that the scheme was properly run and managed.

This gave some hope to desperate rice growers of the giant scheme who have been wallowing in abject poverty for the last four years.

Mr Ndwiga said that a quick and laborious task was needed to restore rice farming in the scheme, which has been badly mismanaged.

The Co-operative Minister said that the committees should be formed immediately and start work immediately, adding that, the government did not want to take chances with rice farming.

His assistant, Mr Peter Kenneth, Permanent Secretary Rachel Gesami, area MP Alfred Nderitu, Commissioner of Co-operatives Humphrey Mwangi and high-ranking government officials, accompanied him.

Mr Ndwiga said that he was surprised to see property including the multi-million shillings rice mill lying idle.

He said the mills and the rice reception centres should be re-opened immediately for use by farmers.

At the same time, Mr Ndwiga said that Co-operatives, Water Resources and Agriculture ministries would form another committee to discuss modalities to transfer NIB shares to the farmers, adding that rice farmers would be empowered and encouraged to work hard towards the improvement of the economy.

He said that the giant scheme produced more than 60 per cent of the rice grown in Kenya and should not be left to collapse.

The Manyatta MP said that the government was considering banning cheaply imported rice to protect local farmers.

Mr Ndwiga warned that corrupt and incompetent co-operative officials would be weeded out.

He said: "Our co-operative societies have been messed by some of the officials. Those who have ruined the societies will not be spared because we want to restore the glory the farmers used to enjoy in yesteryears."