Former nominated senator Isaac Mwaura has said maize importation should be handled by the Agriculture ministry and not the Trade docket.
Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi said it wasn't within Kuria's purview to issue declarations concerning food security in the country.
He said that he is the custodian of information on how much food Kenya needs and what is the grain deficit in the country.
Speaking on Tuesday, Mwaura said that just because the importation of maize contains the mechanics of tonnes that does not guarantee it to be under the Trade ministry.
"When I first saw it I was wondering is this the docket of Trade or Agriculture? I am very happy the way Linturi has responded so that it is not just a question of the mechanics of how many tonnes are coming in because of is a trade issue," he said at KTN.
"It is an agricultural issue and it should have been domiciled there from the word go."
Linturi distanced himself from the sentiments of Trade CS Moses Kuria on maize importation.
"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."
On Monday, the High Court suspended the importation and distribution of genetically modified crops pending hearing of a case filed by farmers.
Justice Mugure Thande suspended the directive by the government on October 3, which lifted the ban on GMO.
