Why maize in stores might be destroyed

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Agriculture CS Mwangi Kiunjuri.Kiunjuri and his Treasury counterpart Henry Rotich have been summoned by the National Assembly committee on Agriculture over a looming fertilizer crisis PHOTO: COURTESY.

Nairobi,KENYA: Senate Adhoc committee wants agriculture cabinet secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri to give directive concerning the destruction of alleged contaminated maize that as per KEBS report ought to be destroyed.

Speaking before the committee chaired by Prof Margret Kamar, Kiunjuri urged the committee to give him some time to seek the second opinion on the matter.

Kiunjuri said that he received the report and ordered for the second opinion on the matter and the anticipation of the report he ordered for is due Monday next week.

 “I ordered for the verification and second opinion, by Monday next week, so that they are very clear now both KEBS and other agencies so that by the time we report here we shall issue a comprehensive answer,” Kiunjuri said

Bungoma senator Moses Wetangula alleged that according to the Kenya Bureau of standards report, maize in some counties should be destroyed after it emerged that the commodity is alleged to be contaminated with an aflaxotin component.

“Ultimate responsibility lies with NCPB if they allow, trader or a farmer, to bring contaminated maize store in stores ,they must take responsibility.Infact the report from KEBS that we have, requires that you urgently need that all maize with all this a flaxotin destroyed.”Wetangula said

Wetangula said that counties affected as per the report include Machakos ,Kitui ,Meru ,Baringo and Kirinyaga.

Kiunjuri also alluded  that his ministry is contending with management challenges facing farmers who have continuously failed to access fertilizer after senators complained that the wrong people access the commodity apart from the genuine farmers.

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