Mystery of Sh1.8 billion 'paid to maize traders'

Agriculture CS Mwangi Kiunjuri in a past press conference when he addressed the maize crisis issue. [File, Standard]

Controversy surrounds the expenditure of Sh1.8 billion withdrawn from the accounts of the Strategic Food Reserve Trust fund at Central Bank.

One one side, the Strategic Food Reserve Trust claims the money was withdrawn irregularly and paid to a company instead of farmers. But Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri denied these claims, saying the money was used to settle pending bills.