National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula says Parliament has set in motion plans to cushion the struggling maize farmers against pervasive grasp of opportunistic intermediaries.
Wetang’ula conveyed that the endeavor is anchored upon the concerted efforts of Bungoma Senator Hon. Wafula Wakoli and Likuyani MP Hon. Innocent Mugabe who co-sponsored the Maize Bill of 2023. This will serve a dual purpose of safeguarding farmers from exploitation and ensure they reap equitable rewards from their produce.
“We have a new law that allows MPs from both Houses to co-sponsor Bills and that is how the two came up with the proposed legislation that will soon be tabled in the House,” said Hon. Wetang’ula.
According to the Speaker, the envisaged Bill provides a multifaceted remedy to the predicament of excessive maize production. This will allow farmers to establish Maize Cooperative Societies through which they can manage the crop by themselves.
The cooperatives, he said, will solely have the permit to milk maize from farmers and ensure that they directly benefit from value addition initiatives.
The Speaker noted that selling and milling of the maize has lately been attracting unfavorable prices occasioned by unscrupulous middlemen adding that farmers will be cushioned from such challenges if the Bill gets a nod by MPs.
The Speaker was addressing mourners at Kaptanai Secondary School in Sirisia constituency, Bungoma County during the burial of Mzee Benard Kibaba.
Six MPs from the County who accompanied the Speaker led by area MP Hon. Waluke had lamented over how maize farmers were being exploited by middlemen and asked for his intervention to protect them.
Hon. Wetang’ula noted that there is a Law that protects coffee farmers from such challenges adding that it is important to have one for maize farmers too since the majority rely on the crop for their livelihood.
“Sponsoring the Maize Bill is long overdue and I urge the authors to expedite the process and table it in the House for debate and passage,” he added.
Commendably aligned with the prevailing sentiment, Hon.Wetang’ula and his fellow Parliamentarians welcomed President Ruto’s decision to lower the price of fertilizer from Kshs. 3500 to Kshs. 2500 and urged farmers to take advantage to intensify food production so as to help lower the cost of living.
He noted that next week he will come with the Principal Secretary for Agriculture to the County to launch the programme of distributing subsidized fertilizer to constituencies for easy access by farmers.
This is after Kimilili MP Hon. Dismus Barasa noted that farmers were inviting more expenses in traveling to buy the subsidized fertilizer at the County level and noted that the programme should be decentralized.
Hon. Wetang’ula noted that President Ruto will soon visit the County to launch the Nzoia Sugar Company Master Plan that has elaborate measures aimed at stabilizing the ailing Mill.
The MPs promised to rally their support behind Speaker Wetang’ula recognizing his preeminent status as the vanguard of the Western region with the corridors of governance.
Health Cabinet Secretary Ms. Susan Nakhumicha, Bungoma Governor H.E Kenneth Lusaka, MPs Hon Waluke Wakoli, Hon Mugabe, Hon Barasa, Hon Dan Wanyama, Hon Majimbo Kalasinga, IRA Chair Mwambu Mabonga were present.
