On Friday, ODM leader, Raila Odinga, fired a stern warning at Agriculture Cabinet Secretary, Mwangi Kiunjuri, over the planned maize importation.
Raila Odinga urged the Agriculture ministry to thwart the plan, alleging that the shortage is artificial and meant to benefit cartels.
The former Premiere sent a statement to newsrooms.
"I am convinced that something is amiss and that the country may be getting dragged into the routine of artificial, ministry-made grain shortages to allow importation by a cartel in and out of government while consumers and farmers suffer.
“Instead, let us mop up the produce currently lying with farmers in various parts of the country before making any imports," Raila warned, as reported by Nation.
According to the former Prime Minister, he had sufficient reasons to warn against the looming impediment, after he consulted widely with farmers.
Conflicting reports on the need to import large stocks of maize ahead of the August-September harvest deeply disturbed the former Premiere.
Raila rallied upon investigative bodies to urgently zero down on the matter, and arrest any culprit involved.
On Wednesday, the CS stated that the country will import 19 million bags to meet a deficit.
However, on Thursday, Strategic Food Reserve Trust Fund (SFRTF) — a body tasked with stabilising the food supply and prices — opposed the importation.
