Rift MPs call for release of maize farmers’ pay

Legislators from the rift valley are calling on the government to release funds to clear payment to maize farmers who supplied to the national Cereals and Produce board.

This after the government in May announced it would be allocating two billion shillings to clear the payments with farmers’ lamenting the slow release of the funds.

Nandi senator Samson Cherargei says that large numbers of maize farmers from Nandi, Transzoia and Uasin Gishu counties have not been paid adding that those farmers depend on maize farming for income.

Mr Cherargei said that Last month, the Cabinet approved additional Ksh1 billion, which National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich guaranteed to release and effect the payment based on the systems in place but more amount still owed to farmers is huge.

“We still request an expeditious release of Ksh2 billion from treasury to pay all farmers that supplied maize to the NCPB and without discrimination,” Mr Charargei said.

Mosop Member of Parliament Vincent Tuwei said that the government should prioritize the payment of farmers.

The MP blamed the executive for the current woes faced by farmers adding that the executive is aware of what is going on at the expense of farmers.

“We would not have seen such scandals as maize and sugar if leaders were united,” he said.