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Kenya: Treasury on the Spot for Removing Sh5.1 Billion Fertilizer Subsidy From Supplementary Budget

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4 years ago

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Nairobi — Legislators in the Agriculture Committee say they will paralyze the passage of the Supplementary Budget to protest the decision by the National Treasury to remove an Sh5 billion allocation meant for fertilizer subsidy for farmers.

Led by the Chairman and Moiben MP Silas Tiren, the MPs accused their colleagues in the Budget and Appropriations Committee of scheming behind their back and amending their proposal.

“It is now that we will want to see those who think of the people they represent or those who think that they can hide behind others. This is the time that we want to know who represents who because I believe food security is very important. It will be very expensive for this country to import maize in the event we have low yield next year,” he said.

A furious Tiren pleaded with President Uhuru Kenyatta to intervene and salvage the situation which he warned may lead to a food shortage crisis in the country due to low harvest.

“We want to know if they think that Kenyans can do without farmers, we want the Ministry of Agriculture to come out clean on whether they are willing to help us or they’re not willing. If they can subsidize fuel to the tune of Sh12 billion every month, what is so difficult to set aside Sh30 billion for farmers once in 12 months,” he said.

MPs Majimbo Kalasinga (Kabuchai) and Osman Mohammed (Fafi) accused the National Treasury of playing politics with the country’s food security.

“I am a practicing Catholic and I believe in Catholicism. I think the Ministry of Treasury is behaving like a Mother Superior, it is like it’s sitting on all other Ministries,” he said.