We are ready to buy Maize at Ksh3600 Bett

The government is ready to purchase maize from local farmers at Ksh3600 per 90kg bag- says Agriculture CS, Willy Bett.

The CS alleged that one of the factors that led to the biting maize shortage is hoarding of grain by local farmers.

Speaking in Nairobi on Thursday, Bett said: “…a good number of them were hoarding maize waiting for prices to shoot so that they can sell at maximum profits when the commodity is in dire demand.”

Speaking when he appeared before the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture today, the CS strongly refuted claims that the government opted to pay Mexican maize producers over Ksh.1000 more than local farmers – claims that were fronted by the National Super Alliance (NASA).

Bett clarified that the government did not directly source the 29,000 tons of maize that landed at the ports this week, saying that private importers purchased the maize at Ksh.3, 600 per 90kg bag.

“The government is committed to deal with this crisis. The maize were not bought at the prices everybody is purporting, they were bought at Ksh3600 per 90kg bag. The government is ready to buy maize from local farmers at not more than Ksh3600,” said the CS.

A section of Kenyans have, however, questioned this stance, especially because Bett personally received the Maize when it landed at the Mombasa port.

Speaking Wednesday during a rally in Kisii County, NASA leaders raised questions about the expediency of the maize imports announced by government.

NASA founder Musalia Mudavadi questioned the source of the billions of money the government has spent on maize subsidies, adding that the whole maize shortage was engineered by Jubilee-linked cartels.

“Where did Ksh.6 billion come from yet the government said that it don’t have enough money to pay Kenyan farmers for their maize? Where was the money when Kenyans were suffering of hunger?” questioned Mudavadi.

Maize prices have dropped to Ksh.90 per 2kg bag – this coming after Kenyans complained bitterly about the soaring cost of living.