Senate starts probe on Sh3.5b NCPB debt

Senate has begun investigations into failure by the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) to pay farmers billions of shillings for maize.

Members of the Senate Ad Hoc Committee that is probing the maize situation in the country yesterday announced the start of an inquiry that would be seeking answers on Sh3.5 billion owed to the maize farmers.

The probe will take two months.

“We will also inquire about the challenges facing NCPB and farmers, and make recommendations on how to resolve them,” said committee chairperson Margaret Kamar (Uasin Gishu).

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“We will also want to establish the quantity of duty-free maize imported during the duty-free window, which was to end in October 2017, and why it was extended."

Ms Kamar announced that the team would write a comprehensive report that would include legislative and regulatory proposals to address issues ailing the maize sector.

Other members

Other members of the committee are Moses Wetang'ula (vice chairman), Samson Cherargei (Nandi), Christopher Langat (Bomet) and Michael Mbito (Trans Nzoia).

Others are senators Petronilla Were (nominated), Boniface Kabaka (Machakos), Okong'o Omogeni (Nyamira) and Mary Seneta (nominated).

Speaking separately, MPs Silas Tiren (Moiben), Alfred Keter (Nandi Hills) and Ferdinand Wanyonyi (Kwanza) protested against the re-introduction of tax on fertiliser and other farm inputs, warning that it would hurt farmers