Govt releases Ksh.2.1B to pay maize farmers dues

Govt releases Ksh.2.1B to pay maize farmers dues

Deputy President William Ruto says the government has released Ksh.2.1 billion to pay the debt for maize delivered to National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) stores last year.

Speaking in Eldoret during Bishop Cornelius Korir first memorial service, DP Ruto said the Ministry of Agriculture will commence payment to farmers next week.

Ruto further added that the government has ordered the ministry to announce the new maize price in a weeks time to allow farmers deliver their maize to NCPB.

The Deputy President however cautioned unscrupulous businessmen saying that only the local farmers will be allowed to deliver maize to NCPB.

The order follows a public outcry by maize farmers over the alleged multi-billion-shilling maize scandal at the NCPB which has since unearthed over 200 ghost farmers who received payment.

The delayed payments to farmers was as a result of unscrupulous traders who were paid millions of shillings meant for genuine farmers by NCPB.

In October, President Uhuru Kenyatta called for the arrest and prosecution of those who embezzled funds allocated to the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB).

For several months now, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri has been under fire over claims of corruption at the maize depot.

The NCPB scandal was revealed after an audit conducted into the multi-billion-shilling maize scandal unearthed over 200 ghost farmers.

It is said that they were paid up to Ksh.1.9billion by the cereals Board, a move which later lead to the arrest of Agriculture PS Richard Lesiyampe and eight NCPB bosses in August this year.

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