Dr. Dr A. Abate

However, FAO's Deputy Representative in Kenya, Dr A. Abate, said the ministry had implemented the project and had all the relevant information about it.

"How come they are now seeking details from FAO?They have not bothered to check their files," she said, adding that FAO had been in consultation with the Forest Department and the Kenya Forest Research Institute (Kefri) over the issue."

She said that the government made the request for the introduction of the shrub to FAO in the early 1980s.

"All we did was to channel the money we got from the Australian government into the project.FAO also acquired the initial sample of 30 trees from Tana River District for testing," she explained.