Red alert as deadly grain missing from State stores

By DAVID OHITO

The Government has raised a red flag after maize samples from last season’s harvest were found to be contaminated.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga directed the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) to buy suspected stock to avert a crisis.

"While results of the final test are not yet available, it is only prudent to conclude that aflatoxin contamination is widespread and serious in Eastern and parts of Coast provinces," Raila said.

Two United Nations agencies had warned that tonnes of maize produced in Bura and Tana irrigation schemes and parts of Eastern Province could be lethal due to high levels of aflatoxin contamination.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga addressed the Press after chairing a special ministerial meeting on food security at Treasury Building Monday. With him is Agriculture Minister Sally Kosgei. [PHOTO: PMPS/STANDARD]

The World Food Programme (WFP) country Director David Okello and World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Bukard Oberle have confirmed, "aflatoxin contamination of maize in Bura and Eastern Province are serious health hazards."

WHO particularly warned that the unusually high incidences of stunted growth in children had been observed in the province.

Sh1 billion used

Sources at the Treasury said two months ago the Exchequer released Sh1 billion to mop up contaminated maize from farms and the market.

But the whereabouts of the stocks stored at NCPB Bura depot remain unclear and a concern for key local and international institutions.

The Government report confirmed that samples collected from depots in at least 14 districts in Eastern and Coast provinces contained intolerable levels of aflatoxin.

The PM said a task force would advise the Ministry of Public Health, Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs), National Public Health Laboratories Services, Kenya Plant Health inspectorate services and NCPB to release their findings.

"To minimise contamination during the current long rains, the Government will mobilise National Youth Service and Army to construct appropriate drying and storage in time for the harvest," he said.

WFP rejected the stocks it intended to buy for programmes under the Purchase for Progress programme.

Government last week dispatched a team to assess contamination in Isiolo, Embu, Meru, Machakos, Kitui, Mutomo, Mwingi, Kibwezi and Makueni areas.

According WFP regulations, the maximum level of aflatoxin contamination for human consumption is 10ppb. In Kenya, up to 20ppb is allowed by Kebs, and up to 60ppb for animals. Contamination of maize found in Bura ranged from 890 to 3,800ppb.

The harvest in Embu contains 63ppb levels. In 2004, 123 people died after an outbreak of aflatoxin in Eastern Province.

The two UN organisations warned that it is not easy to dispose of the aflatoxin contaminated maize and called for public health measures.

A Ministry of Agriculture official showed The Standard a copy of the WFP letter to former Agriculture Minister William Ruto and his Public Health counterpart Beth Mugo warning of the contamination.

The Strategic Grain Reserves Trust adopted a resolution on January 26 not to purchase maize from Bura, after the maize was found to be contaminated.

　

Experts say contaminated maize can only be used for production of ethanol or paint.

The National Food Security Co-ordination Committee (NFSCC) a multi-sectoral committee initiated by various Government agencies has been analyzing crops harvested from Bura.