Farmers from maize growing counties in the Rift Valley region now say they will not participate in the fresh vetting exercise ordered by the government.
Devolution Cabinet Secretary Eugine Wamalwa while announcing the release of Sh1.4 billion to pay farmers said all who supplied maize to the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) would be vetted before being paid.
But addressing the press at the Teachers Advisory Centre (TAC) in Eldoret on Monday, the farmers from Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia and Nakuru counties said they will not allow being subjected to another vetting exercise.
The over 300 farmers insisted that they had been taken through the exercise during the delivery of the maize at the NCPB and when purchasing subsidized fertilizer hence all they expect now is for them to be paid.
“We will not participate in the process of vetting. What we want is the NCPB to pay us our dues,” said Bernard Rotich, a farmer from Tranzoia county.
“I have been a farmer since 1994 and I have always been paid my money without vetting. I am reading malice in the whole vetting process,” added a farmer from Moi's Bridge.
The farmers gave the government 7 days to ensure they have been fully paid for all the maize they supplied to NCPB depots across the country failure to which they said they would stage major demonstrations in all major towns in the region.
“If the seven days will elapse without them paying us our dues, we will bring our tractors, vehicles, and lorries to block all roads here in Eldoret, Kitale and Nakuru,” Kimutai Kolum, a farmer from Uasin Gishu county said.
Moiben Member of Parliament Silas Tiren who also attended the meeting said farmers should be paid as they had suffered a lot.
He urged President Uhuru Kenyatta to intervene so as to bring the matter to an end.
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