Over 300 trucks remained stationed outside the depot in Kisumu after NCPB instructed the depot to decline buying the cereal.
Speaking with this writer on a phone interview NCPB Deputy Corporate Communication Manager, Titus Maiyo, confirmed that the board which is mandated to buy cereals on behalf of government under the Strategic Grain Reserver(SGR) has spent Sh4.3 billion in the exercise.
This has seen maize purchasing in the depot exceeding the allocated budget by Sh100 million.
"A total of Sh1.4 million bags of 90kilograms have been purchased across our depot network countrywide," said Maiyo.
Thomas Boen, a farmer, who brought maize at the depot said that some of the farmers and transporters hail from Njoro, West Pokot, Uasin Gishu, Elgeyo Marakwet and Trans Nzoia.
“We are very disappointed by NCPB decision because some of us has been in the que for ten days,” notes Boen.
Boen said that they had brought their produce to Kisumu after learning that some of the depots nearer like Turbo and Moi's bridge had reached their maximum capacity, hence not in a position to accomodate more.
"We are making loses by staying here, you know paying for a trailer like cost Sh 200,000," said Boen.
"The board should at least take in what has already been brought at the depot and they will find market elsewhere for the maize that has not yet been transported," notes Boen.
The farmers and transporters also complained that the machines at the NCPB had broken down on Monday slowing operations.