A section of lawmakers allied to the ruling Kenya Kwanza Alliance have called for the summoning of Trade and Industry Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria.
Led by Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei, the lawmakers on Tuesday, November 22, opposed the government plan to import maize into the country.
The MPs demanded that Kuria should be summoned alongside Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi for allowing maize importation, a move that they said was killing the maize industry in the country.
"The committees of Agriculture, Trade and Industry in Parliament should immediately summon the CS of Trade Hon. Moses Kuria and CS Agriculture Hon. Mithika Linturi on the matter," the MPs stated in a statement read by Cherargei.
They demanded that the responsible ministries should stop the issuance of a gazette notice to allow the importation of maize.
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The MPs further demanded the government open the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) to mop up the maize harvest from farmers before allowing the importation of the commodity.
Speaking during the same press briefing, Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa said that there was enough maize in the country maintaining that they will not allow any importation.
"We ask our Trade and Investment CS Hon. Moses Kuria not to be bitter with Kenyans. We have enough maize in farms, stores, and the law states that the government should buy the maize first and if it's not enough then it will import," Barasa stated.
The remarks come after Kuria said that the government was planning to import duty-free maize for the next six months.
