This archive report was first published on 16 July 2019.
Published on July 16, 2019, a day after CS Kiunjuri publicly sparred with the Strategic Food Reserve over the state of maize in the country.
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri has sparked a heated debate over the state of maize in the country, with some questioning his understanding of the issue.
CS Kiunjuri has been pushing for the importation of maize, arguing that the country does not have adequate reserves due to late rains. However, Strategic Food Reserve Trust Fund Chairperson Dr Noah Wekesa has countered that the reserves, as well as expected harvests, offer adequate supplies for the country.
Dr Wekesa, a former minister in the Kibaki regime, went further to claim that the shortages resulting in a spike in the price of maize flour are artificial, with 'cartels' pushing the government to open the window for imports.
According to the Economic Survey 2019 by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), the country consumed 44.6 million bags of maize last year, translating to a per month consumption of 3.7 million bags. This is significantly higher than Dr Wekesa's claim of 1.5 million bags per month.
CS Kiunjuri's push for maize imports has raised concerns about the government's ability to ensure food security in the country. The move has also sparked memories of past instances where the government hastily opened up maize import windows, only to benefit importers at the expense of Kenyans.
