Elgeyo Marakwet Deputy Governor Wisely Rotich has dismissed the latest move by the government that has seen the cost of maize flour slashed by half.
The cost had skyrocketed to over Ksh200 per two-kilogram packet, causing an uproar from Kenyans and a section of politicians.
But following a deal brokered by President Uhuru Kenyatta, millers agreed to lower the price to Ksh100 per packet, after the government agreed to introduce a subsidy on the product.
“This program of a subsidy of approximately Sh105 per 2kg pack of maize meal is meant to lower the cost of living for vulnerable households as we look for a sustainable solution to the recurrent rising prices of unga every election,” said the President.
While some Kenyans have already accessed the low-cost unga in various supermarkets, the Elgeyo Marakwet UDA governor candidate says the intervention would not offer a long-lasting solution to the food crisis in the country.
“We the people of Kenya Kwanza don’t see if this subsidy program will help,” Rotich told uasingishunews.co.ke, in an interview on Thursday, July 21, 2022.
Food security in Kenya
He notes that had the government stuck with the earlier food security program of providing subsidies to farmers, the situation would have been much better.
“We had an opportunity to allocate funds for subsidies to improve production but we are now forced to use over a billion shillings on a daily basis just to feed Kenyans, because of some individuals that did not see the need to support farmers,” said the Elgeyo Marakwet deputy county boss.
He however pointed out that the Kenya Kwanza government has a plan to right the wrongs, through a number of interventions contained in their manifesto – which he notes, he played a role in developing.
“As Kenya Kwanza, we came up with a manifesto to help the economy grow as fast as possible, pay our debts and address the food security issue,” noted Wisely Rotich.
The UDA governor candidate also hit out at the Azimio coalition, which he said has no idea on how to address challenges facing Kenyans.
