Weekend claims by a section of North Rift Jubilee legislators that Deputy President William Ruto had a hand in the recent maize scandal that rocked the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) continues to elicit mixed reactions among elected Kalenjin leaders.
This is after Members of Parliament Silas Tiren (Moiben), Joshua Kutuny (Cheranganyi) and Alfred Keter (Nandi Hills) suggested that the DP be investigated over the maize scam in which over Sh1.9 billion was irregularly paid t traders by NCPB to the expense of genuine farmers.
A section of the DP's allies has however dismissed claims by the three MPs who are now seen as rebels.
According to Belgut MP Nelson Koech, Ruto has nothing to do with farmer's woes as claimed by the leaders.
Speaking during a live interview at KTN on Sunday, Koech said: "DP Ruto knows what ails maize farmers more than the other people who talk."
"If DP Ruto knows the farmers' problems, why haven't they solved?" Tiren who was also in the live interview asked in reply.
The two MPs also differed over recent calls for farmers to diversify into avocado farming, in what is seen as an effort to discourage maize farming.
DP Ruto who spoke last Friday during the burial of his aide, Farouk Kibet had asked farmers to consider planting avocados as an alternative crop.
"Ruto did not tell people to stop maize farming but rather diversify by not depending on one crop," stated Koech while also claiming that the three legislators were using the maize issue for political gain.
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