Raila Odinga promises to weed out cartels, uplift maize farmers in Trans Nzoia
Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader
Raila Odinga has reiterated that it is imperative for the government to support
maize farmers in Trans Nzoia County.
While addressing residents of the region on
Saturday, Odinga claimed that the farmers have little to show for their efforts
despite producing majority of the maize in the country.
According to Odinga, the maize farming sector
in the region is full of greedy individuals who dupe farmers to sell the
produce at low prices only to re-sell them at much higher rates.
This, the former Prime Minister argues, has left the farmers with little to show for their efforts, something he would want to change if elected to the presidency next year.
“Everywhere in the world, ukienda Marekani
ama Ulaya, farming is always a subsidised business. Serikali inasubsidise
farming ili wananchi wawe na chakula ya kutosha kwa bei nafuu, tutafanya haya
kwa wakulima wetu, ili wakulima waweze kupata haki yao kulingana na jasho yao,”
he said.
Odinga similarly advocated for a decrease in
the prices of farming inputs such as seeds and fertilizers so as to augment
maize production in the region.
The ODM leader, who was accompanied by
governors Wycliffe Oparanya (Kakamega) and Alex Tolgos (Elgeyo Marakwet), also
insisted that should he clinch the presidency in next year’s general elections,
his government will introduce health insurance covers for all Kenyans and a
monthly stipend of Ksh. 6,000 for needy families.
Odinga is expected to tour different parts of
Trans Nzoia to preach his agenda ahead of the polls next year.
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