This archive report was first published on 14 July 2019.
Leaders from maize-growing regions of Western Kenya are now demanding the resignation of Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri, citing his alleged mismanagement of the sector.
According to the leaders, Kiunjuri's actions have led to an artificial shortage of maize in the country, necessitating importation at a time when maize-growing regions are expecting bumper harvests in less than two months.
They expressed suspicion at the government's plan to import duty-free maize, which they view as a plot to flood the market with cheap maize imports while farmers' produce rots in their stores.
The leaders further alleged that Kiunjuri was sponsoring a coup against farmers to reward traders.
On July 14, 2019, the embattled CS clashed with Strategic Food Reserve Board Chairman Noah Wekesa over maize imports, with Kiunjuri claiming the country had a deficit of 19 million bags to be plugged through imports, while Wekesa claimed only two million bags were required.
As reported by the Senate ad-hoc committee that investigated the 2017 maize saga, the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) reported that 17.7 million bags were brought in, a figure different from the Ministry of Agriculture's 10.5 million bags.
Maize importation remains a big business for traders with capacity to bring in grain into the country.
Join @citizentvke Telegram channel for Citizen TV updates.
