A section of Rift Valley MPs have in the recent times condemned several calls by the government. The section has been rallying against the Deputy President.
They have condemned various actions taken by the government so far. They are stepping in the shoes of the opposition which has been left vacant by the former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
A section of Rift Valley leaders have rejected the government’s Sh2,300 offer for a bag maize, vowing that farmers will not accept anything less than Sh3,600 for a 90kg bag.
Four Rift Valley MPs on Friday described the government offer as far below the cost of production and an insult to millions of maize farmers in the country.
MPs Joshua Kutuny (Cherangany), Silas Tiren (Moiben), Alfred Keter (Nandi Hills) and Joshua Kandie (Baringo Central) vowed to rally farmers to reject the approved new price.
The Cabinet on Thursday approved the purchase of maize for Sh2,300 per 90kg bag in a meeting chaired by President Uhuru Kenyatta and attended by his deputy William Ruto.
“The Cabinet today approved the purchase of 2 million bags of maize from farmers at the price of Sh2,300 per 90 kg bag. The maize will be purchased through the National Cereals and Produce Board,” State House announced.
Kutuny said they have organised meetings with the farmers to lobby them into rejecting the price.
“We will not relent in the fight for better prices. It is very unfortunate that the government took a decision which goes against farmers’ wishes,” added Keter.
Early this month, two governors from the country’s maize basket counties Jackson Mandago (Uasin Gishu) and Patrick Khaemba said the Sh2,300 offer, which was initially flouted by the Strategic Grain Reserve Board, was unacceptable to the farmers.
“Farmers are producing maize at an average cost of Sh1,800 per bag and if one considers the costs of transport and other issues then they cannot make profit at Sh2,300 per bag,” Mandago said.
Speaking in Eldoret, the two leaders said there was no need for them to sit on the task force if decisions are made without consultations.
“Farmers are producing maize at the cost of averagely Sh1,800 per bag and if one considers the costs of transport and other issues then they cannot make profits at Sh 2,300 per bag,” said Mandago.
“It’s like some people are ignoring the president’s directive on the task force. This is a situation where the same people, want to make the same kind of decisions and then we end up in the same problems that we have been experiencing,” said Mandago.
Do you think they have interest of farmers and citizens at heart?