Agriculture Cabinet Secretary, Mwangi Kiunjuri, defended himself over recent allegations that his ministry was creating a false maize shortage, in order for a few individuals to be able to rake in billions via imports.
Speaking on Sunday, at Kahira Ini Church in Mathira, Nyeri, Kiunjuri maintained that the country was indeed facing an acute maize shortage.
However, reports by Citizen Digital revealed that the embattled CS insisted that the decision as to whether the country would import the deficit, would be made by the Cabinet.
Coming to Kiunjuri's aid was Laikipia Senator, John Kinyua, who was also present at the church, where he went on to state that the CS was simply following the president's orders to endure that maize flour remained affordable to the common mwananchi.
Kiunjuri, during his address, claimed to be the victim of a political witch-hunt carried out by leaders of the maize-growing region, who have been calling for his resignation.
This was in direct response to ODM party leader, Raila Odinga, and his latest comments regarding the country's never-ending maize saga.
The AU envoy had fired a stern warning at the Agriculture CS, regarding over the planned maize importation.
"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," Raila disclosed on July 12, 2019.
The opposition party leader castigated the ministry, following CS Kiunjuri's statement on July 10, 2019, that the government would import 19 million bags of maize to counter the deficit.
He went on to urged the Ministry to thwart the plan, alleging that the shortage is artificial and meant to benefit cartels.
CS Kiunjuri had also been involved in a confrontation with Strategic Food Reserve Board Chairman, Noah Wekesa, regarding the exact figure of the national deficit.
While the CS pegged it at 19 million bags, Wekesa was adamant that the country only needed two million bags.
