Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has lauded the move by Agriculture CS Mithuka Linturi to clarify that the Cabinet was not involved in maize importation.
In a statement on Monday, the senator said the government should use locally available maize instead of importing.
"Thank you CS Mithika Linturi for setting the record straight that cabinet did not sanction importation of 10 million bags of duty-free maize," he said.
"Use locally available maize to cushion farmers."
Earlier, Linturi distanced himself from the sentiments of Trade CS Moses Kuria on maize importation.
Linturi said he is the custodian of how much food is needed and how much is the deficit.
"So I will not answer to what is being reported in the social media," he said.
"Hold your horses because I want to give you a position that I am ready to defend. I need to have statistics before I can answer that."
The CS said that he will file a more comprehensive statement on national food security.
"I will give a more comprehensive report on the national food status at a later date when I have all the data. Relax, you will have food," Linturi said.
This is after farmers in Rift Valley denied hoarding maize after Kuria gave them 72 hours to sell their produce before a decision on importation is approved by the Cabinet.
Kuria said there is a huge maize shortage and the country will be forced to import more stocks to avoid a food crisis.
“By February next year, there will be a shortage of 15 million bags. Let's agree to sell the maize we are holding. The government will not buy a single grain of maize. Even the imported maize will be procured by traders,” the CS said.
However, farmers' representatives said a majority of them were in the process of harvesting and drying their crops before selling them.
