Senators have criticised the move by the government to stop buying maize from local farmers, saying the decision is aimed at punishing farmers for political expediency.
The ministry also announced it will soon import four million bags of maize, a move that Ms Kihika said does not make sense since farmers still have stocks from last year's bumper harvest.
SUPRESS FARMERS
The matter was brought to the floor of the Senate by senators George Khaniri (Vihiga) and Samson Cherargei (Nandi) who warned that failure by the government to provide interventions to farmers during the Covid-19 pandemic posed existential danger to the country.
The CS has, however, dismissed as "total lies" assertions that the government had stopped purchasing maize from farmers.
He added that under the new proposal, the National Cereals and Produce Board will be converted into a trading division where the government will buy maize from farmers indirectly and sell it in the market at commercial rates.
