Farmers in Bahati area of Nakuru have disregarded warnings by the Ministry of Agriculture that required them not to plant maize following the outbreak of a destructive maize disease. In issuing the directive, the ministry said that maize was doing well in the region compared to other food crops. But Sarah Chege, a farmer, says that she harvested 20 bags of maize from a two-acre piece of land. "This is the only secure plant we can rely on. We do not agree with the ministry telling us that our maize will do badly since we have tested it before and it has worked perfectly," she said. Janet Nyambura, another resident, said that majority of the farmers relied on the maize for their staple food. "We depend on the maize for maize flour since it has become hard to purchase already sifted flour. We also make ‘githeri’ and ‘muthokoi’ and hence we find the warning ridiculous,” Nyambura said. Nakuru executive member for agriculture Stanley Chepkwony threatened to take legal action against the farmers. "I do not understand why they say that they cannot plant beans or potatoes. It is clear that the soil is still bearing the virus of the disease and it might affect its productivity," said Chepkwony. He threatened to arrest and charge such farmers before the law courts for disregarding the warning. "They are contributing greatly to the spread of a disease we are trying to get rid of."

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