Cherangany Member of Parliament Joshua Kutuny has welcomed reports that maize prices had been increased from Sh2,300 to Sh3,000 per 90-kilogram bag.
Through a statement posted on his official Facebook page, Kutuny, however, said that their position on the maize purchase price still remains Sh3,600.
He was reacting to reports on a local daily that the Agriculture and Research Principal Secretary Hamadi Boga was quoted saying the government had reviewed the price of a 90kg bag of maize to Sh3,000 from the previously approved Sh2,300.
"Although the government has not offered maize farmers their proposed purchase price of Sh3,600, we are at least thankful for the new offer of Sh3,000," reads part of the statement.
The PS has since termed reports of him saying maize prices had been reviewed upwards as wrong and grossly malicious.
"I would like to state categorically that as the PS in the Ministry of Agriculture, I have no powers to settle debates on maize pricing between the government, farmer and politicians or any other debate for the matter," read part of the statement by the PS sent to newsrooms, Tuesday.
Kutuny further appealed to the government to consider reviewing the two million bags of maize it had committed to buy from farmers so as to boost its strategic grain reserves.
"Our farmers have harvested a lot of maize this season and I am calling on the concerned agencies to consider reviewing the quantity of maize they intend to buy from the farmers," said Kutuny.
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