This archive report was first published on 19 July 2019.
On Friday, Raila Odinga, the leader of the Orange Democratic Movement, criticized Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri over the maize importation controversy.
Mr. Odinga claimed that cartels have created the impression of a maize shortage to justify unnecessary imports, which he believes will harm Kenyan farmers.
Speaking at his Opoda farm in Bondo, Siaya County, where he hosted farmers from the region to a field day in collaboration with the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (Kephis) and the Siaya government, Mr. Odinga said, "We don't want our farmers to suffer because of maize imports by some goons. We know who they are and how they litter our markets."
He added, "Our farmers grow enough maize. We don't want thugs to lie to us that there is a shortage."
Mr. Odinga's comments came after it emerged that Sh1.8 billion was withdrawn from the Strategic Food Reserve Trust Fund (SFRTF) as an advance payment for the importation, sparking calls for Mr. Kiunjuri's resignation.
Mr. Odinga wondered how imports can be made before the shortfall is determined, saying, "Let our farmers deliver their produce to the [National Cereals and Produce Board] before you can start importing. How do you import before you know the shortfall we have? We know their tricks... let them take their tricks elsewhere."
Chairman of the SFRTF, Noah Wekesa, had earlier stated that there is no need to import maize since the country has at least 2,760,000 90-kilogramme bags, a quantity that will last until mid-August.
Mr. Wekesa said they were expecting good harvests from Bomet and Western regions and that visits to Machakos, Kirinyaga, and Bungoma established millers had some maize.
