This archive report was first published on 12 July 2019.
On July 12, 2019, Orange Democratic Movement leader Raila Odinga expressed concerns over the planned importation of maize by the Agriculture ministry, claiming the shortage was artificial and meant to benefit cartels.
According to Odinga, he consulted widely with farmers and was deeply disturbed by conflicting reports on the need to import large stocks of maize ahead of the August-September harvest.
“I held wide consultations with farmers and their representatives, and with the Strategic Food Reserve Trust Fund (SFRTF),” he said in a statement to newsrooms.
“I am convinced that something is amiss and that the country may be getting dragged into the routine of artificial, ministry-made grain shortages to allow importation by a cartel in and out of government while consumers and farmers suffer,” Odinga added.
He called on investigative agencies to get to the bottom of the menace and bring the culprits to book.
However, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri had earlier announced plans to import 19 million bags of maize to meet a deficit.
But the SFRTF opposed the importation, citing the country's existing maize stock and expected harvests from Bomet and Western regions.
“Sometime in September, we are going to start receiving maize from farmers in western regions and Bomet,” said Noah Wekesa, the fund's board chairman.
He accused cartels of only being interested in lining their pockets.
MPs from maize-growing regions also chided Kiunjuri, accusing him of protecting cartels in the ministry.
