Farmers in Kitale took to the streets on 2018-11-22 in support of Jubilee MPs Joshua Kuttuny of Cherangany, Silas Tiren of Moiben and Alfred Keter of Nandi Hills, who had pushed for higher maize prices and the reopening of National Cereals and Produce Board stores.
The protesters said the Sh2,300 per 90kg bag announced by the Strategic Food Reserve board was too low and wanted the Government to pay Sh3,600 for maize from the current season. They also urged President Uhuru Kenyatta to step in and resolve the standoff.
Among those speaking out were Dennis Ndiwa and Simon Murey, who said the price offered by the State was unacceptable and demoralising to farmers. Murey said: “We support the position that the three MPs have taken. The Government should give us better prices for maize as it is our main source of income and we want the price to be raised to Sh3600 per 90kg bag,”
The farmers accused some MPs and Government officials of working with cartels to deny them their rightful earnings from maize farming. They also said the cost of production was too high and warned that lowering the buying price would hurt farming in the region.
George Bitok said farmers were still waiting for payment for maize delivered to the board last season. He added that many households were holding large stocks at home and did not know when the Government would resume buying the crop.
In the crowd, Peter Lopeyok, a 36-year-old maize farmer from Barina, was pictured selling his maize produce at between Sh900 and Sh1,000, underscoring the pressure farmers said they were under as the dispute dragged on.
The farmers challenged President Kenyatta to act against officials they accused of colluding with cartels to undermine maize farming.
