The maize scandal debate in the Rift Valley is taking a fresh twist as the area legislators publicly drag the Deputy President William Ruto's name into the matter.
Three North Rift region MPs, during the weekend, demanded that the Deputy President be questioned over alleged involvement in the matter that has troubled the region's farmers.
Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter, Cheranganyi MP Joshua Kutuny and Moiben's Silas Tiren now want Ruto questioned on both the fertilizer and the maize scandal.
"What we know is that these problems are because of the DP and people in his office," argued Keter in his address to a farmers meeting on Saturday.
The MPs also accused the DP of making calls to the national cereals and produce board to influence the flow of payments to maize suppliers.
"We want the DP probed because we have heard that he has been calling NCPB officials instructing them on who should be paid," claimed Kutuny, as quoted by the Daily Nation, even though no evidence had been provided.
Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei did not take the matter lightly. He blamed the troubles in the sector on the farmers and several politicians for politicising the matter.
Kutuny had argued that given that CS Kiunjuri had claimed that senior government officials were involved, it would only be fair that the Deputy President is probed.
"We should not blame the Deputy President now and then about the maize issue. He has the obligation to protect all farmers.
"It is the MPs in the maize growing zones that have failed the farmers. They have not sponsored a motion to parliament to have government allocate more funds to the purchase of maize from farmers," stated Senator Cherargei.
