A section of millers in Eldoret town has asked the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture Mwangi Kiunjuri to extend leases of using National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) godowns.
This is after a one month notice given to the millers to vacate the godowns lapsed.
Led by Kitui Flour Millers, the millers said by NCPB taking over the stores, it will render over 40 workers jobless.
“We urge the government to think twice and leave for us the stores so that we may continue helping large and small scale farmers until the maize season ends as we plan to look for an alternative place where we will conduct our business,” said Vae Fakii Vae who was speaking on the behalf of the millers.
Speaking to the press in Eldoret town on Wednesday, Fakii noted that they have been using the stores for the last 27 years and have been paying an annual rent of Sh 6 million.
“If they eject us from the premises at this time, small and large farmers will suffer a lot since they will have nowhere to take their produce,” he said
Currently, the NCPB is yet to open their stores so as to allow farmers to deliver their produce with most of them being forced to sell to millers.
During a visit to Eldoret NCPB silo last year, CS Kiunjuri directed that all leased stores be taken back by the board so as to create space where maize that will be bought from farmers will be stored.
The Cabinet has approved the purchase of 2 million bags of maize from farmers this season at Sh2,300 per 90-kilogram bag.