At the end of this wrangles, it is the common mwananchi that will suffer. The row between government and maize producers has escalated after farmers and a section of North Rift MPs dismissed the move by the cabinet to approve KSh 2,300 price per 90kgs bag of maize at National Cereals Produce Baord (NCPB). On Thursday, November 22, the cabinet approved the price which was KSh 1,300 less than the KSh 3,600 requested by farmers.
Speaking to the press separately on Friday, November 23, the farmers and the MPs vowed they would not deliver maize to NCPB until the price was reviewed upwards to match high cost of production and living. The farmers position means NCPB will lack maize in the strategic grain reserve, a situation which could drive up prices of Unga considering the grain is a staple food. “There is nothing to smile about the maize prices approved by the cabinet.
The price of KSh 2,300 per 90kg bag of maize is like an insult to farmers who have worked round the year. We cannot work for losses because some people are hell bent on killing the sector,” said Kipkorir Arap Menjo, Kenya Farmers Association Director. Menjo said it was sad that farmers could hardly get back the average KSh 34,000 used in producing maize in one acre of land with the KSh 2,300 price.
Jesse Mais another enraged farmer questioned the silence of Deputy President William Ruto and other North Rift leaders who were vocal on other issues but had turned blind eye to their plight. Cherangany MP Joshua Kutuny and his Nandi Hills counterpart Alfred Keter reiterated the farmers’ position saying they would rally the producers against delivering their maize at NCPB until a better offer is given.
“We will stand with the farmers despite intimidation from some quarters. We have told farmers not to take maize to NCPB until a better price is offered,” he said. Kutuny explained all leaders in the region had invited by farmers to discuss maize crisis but their counterparts with close ties with Ruto were a no show.