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Ruto: I don’t sell maize and the govt never imported any Mexico maize


Deputy President William Ruto on Tuesday came out to strongly distance himself from claims that he was involved in the shipping of the cargo of Mexican maize to Kenya.

In live interview on Citizen TV, the deputy president explained that the maize was imported by private entities and absolved the Jubilee government from accusations of playing politics with country’s food security.

Mr Ruto additionaly said that Kenyans are being trivial in seeking answers on the origin and shipment of the maize cargo, arguing that it did not matter where the maize came from.

UNFAIR QUESTION

Pressed for answers on where the maize came from, Mr Ruto answered: “I think that is a very unfair question because the importer is not the government of Kenya. I work for the government of Kenya. Private persons are in the business of selling maize which I don’t. The information I have which is in the public domain and which you can clarify, the maize came from Mexico.”

National Super Alliance(Nasa) leaders have questioned how a 30, 000 tonne consignment of maize from Mexico arrived just two days after Parliament passed a supplementary budget to allow duty-free importation of maize – questions that the deputy president rubbished.

Mr Ruto accused the Opposition leaders of politicising the issue.

SUBSIDIZED MAIZE

On Tuesday the government in collaboration with millers unveiled a new subsidized maize flour. Kenyans will now buy a two-kilogram packet of maize flour for Sh90 and a one-kilogram packet at Sh47.

The new prices and packaging that includes a red GOK will have the subsidized flour include Unga Ltd, Jamii Milling Ltd, Kabansora Millers Ltd, Mombasa Maize Millers Ltd, Kitale Industries Ltd, Pembe Flour Millers among others.

Samples of the packed products bearing individual brand name were displayed to the media during the press conference at Kilimo House.