[NASA principal Raila Odinga at the Eldoret 64 Stadium, February 25, 2017. Photo/rao.co.ke]

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ODM party leader Raila Odinga has expressed his gratitude to the Kalenjin nation for the overwhelming support they gave him in 2007.

During a Nasa coalition rally in Eldoret, Raila indicated that he did his best to reciprocate; first by appointing sons and daughters of the community to the strongest ministries.

He said, ministries such as Agriculture (William Ruto and Sally Kosgei later), Roads (Kipkalya Kones and later Franklin Bett), Industrialization (Henry Kosgey), Higher Education (Hellen Sambili) among a host of assistant ministers and ministries were being held by people from the Kalenjin community.

‘’As a Grand Coalition, I ensured we paid attention to the economic wellbeing of the community and things worked for them,’’ he said, Saturday.

He faulted the Jubilee government, for ignoring farmer’s plight, especially after maize prices dropped drastically.

‘’Today, a 90kg bag of maize sold Sh3,200. Under Jubilee, it fell to Sh2,800. It is only now that it is rising marginally to Sh3,000 again because of the drought and famine. NCPB is refusing to buy at Sh3400 yet they want to import maize.’’

For the last five years, Raila said maize farmers have posted dismal harvests because of Maize Leaf Necrosis disease, yet there has been no serious effort to address this problem.

‘’At the beginning of 2014, maize production in Rift Valley declined from 22 million bags in 2012 last to 17 million bags. The use of poor quality of subsidized fertilizers has also contributed to the problem.’’

According to him, cheap imports have also stood in the farmers’ way, hindering them from benefiting from their produce.

‘’Farmers lack technical advice on good agricultural practices and crop husbandry because the government withdrew agricultural extension officers.’’

He added: ‘’The Grand Coalition government started the process of returning the New Kenya Co-operative Creameries to farmers. That has stalled. Instead, they want to privatize it at a time milk producers are being paid very low because of monopoly.’’