Trade, Investment and Industry Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria says the government not import any maize inputs.
The CS said they will not purchase maize for any other reason other than strategic preservation.
Through a statement on social media, Kuria asked the farmers to urgently release the existing maize bags and those obtained after harvesting to millers, so that the government does not import maize.
Let them release it to the millers. You can call me if no miller is buying your maize
Moses Kuria
He claimed that farmers are sitting on over 20 million bags of maize and are expected to harvest about 35 million bags in the next two weeks.
“GoK will not buy maize directly or indirectly other than for Strategic Reserve. It is estimated that farmers are sitting on 20 million bags of maize,” he tweeted.
He went ahead to state, “Let them release it to the millers. You can call me if no miller is buying your maize.”
The gazette notice we will release today will open up the market to millers and anyone to import maize duty free for 6 months
Moses Kuria
Gazzete notice
The CS said that the government will release a notice to open up millers.
“The gazette notice we will release today will open up the market to millers and anyone to import maize duty free for 6 months,” said Kuria.
This comes after opposition leader Raila Odinga’s remarks about leading political leaders in stopping the government’s attempt to import GMO maize.
Odinga said that the move would disadvantage farmers in food-producing regions.