Declare Maize Lethal Necrosis national disaster, President Uhuru told

Trans Nzoia Senator Henry ole Ndiema has asked President Uhuru Kenyatta to declare Maize Lethal Necrosis (MLN) a national disaster.

Mr Ndiema said the devastating viral maize disease that has affected crops in some parts of Rift Valley, Central, Western and Eastern Kenya posed a great danger to food security and declaring it a national disaster would give it the seriousness it deserves and help to manage it.

"MLN wipes out almost the entire crop on the farm. Experts have predicted that the crop production in the country could decline by as much as 60 per cent," said the senator.

Ndiema, who is also a Senate Agriculture Committee member, said maize is a staple crop for most Kenyans, and apart from declaring the disease a national disaster, the country's plant health and agricultural research agencies should come up with mechanisms to reduce its impact.

"It should be treated like Ebola and strict measures should be put in place to manage it and end the crisis," said the senator.

Ndiema was speaking at the weekend after touring several development projects in his county.