A section of North Rift maize farmers held a meeting in Eldoret town on Saturday to discuss the poor maize prices recently set by the government barely two weeks ago.
The farmers from DP Ruto's backyard have now given President Uhuru Kenyatta seven days to announce new maize price of Sh3,600 per 90kg bag or they will drive their tractors to the state house in protest.
Led by Cherangany Member of Parliament Joshua Kutuny, his Nandi Hills counterpart Alfred Keter, former MPs Jesse Mais and Lucas Chepkitony among other leaders, the farmers threatened to storm state house in Nairobi if the one-week ultimatum would elapse before the new price is announced.
"We have given President Uhuru seven days to announce new maize price of Sh3,600 per 90-kilogram bag, failure to which we will drive tractors to statehouse until the new maize price is implemented," one of the farmers told the press.
The farmers rejected the Sh2,300 set by the government as the purchase price for 90-kilogram bag of maize noting that it amounted to an insult to them.
"Fertilizer price has gone up, cost of ploughing has also increased due to the high cost of fuel, among other costs. So selling maize at Sh2,300 is a lose," added another aggrieved farmer.
Among other things discussed during the meeting include the move by the government to privatize New KCC and NCPB, fertilizer subsidy.
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