National alert over poison maize

A major alert has been issued over the presence of 2.3 million bags of poisonous maize in the country.

And the Government on Monday banned the transportation of the contaminated maize within and outside 29 affected districts.

President Kibaki chaired a high-powered ministerial team on food security at his Harambee House office before Agriculture Minister Sally Kosgey sent out the health alert.

“The government wishes to announce that we are facing a health threat as a result of there being high levels of aflatoxin contaminated maize in Eastern Province and parts of Coast Province,” Dr Kosgey announced.

Aflatoxin is a fungus that affects some food crops under certain environmental conditions. The fungus can be found on planted and harvested crops growing or stored in high temperature and moisture content.

Dr Kosgey, who was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Internal Security minister George Saitoti, Public Health minister Beth Mugo and Head of Public Service Francis Muthaura attributed the contamination to prolonged rainy season “that did not allow maize to dry.”

"The contaminated maize “is not suitable for human or animal consumption,” Dr Kosgey said.

Only 700,000 bags of the country’s staple grain harvested from the affected areas passed the test out of three million bags.

Parts of the country witnessed high amounts of rainfall late last year and early this year resulting in bumper harvest including in traditionally dry areas like Ukambani. Local farmers however complained of lack of storage facilities and markets for the cereals.

Affected districts

The government is to use Sh3 billion to buy the grains from the affected districts which include Meru Central, Imenti North, Isiolo, Tigania West, Igembe South, Buuri, Kitui, Migwani, Kibwezi, Makueni, Yatta, Machakos, Mwala, Mwingi and Kathiani.

Others are Embu West, Mbeere North, Embu East, Runyenjes, Meru South, Mara, Imenti South Kitui West, Kathonzweni, Mutomo, Masinga and Mwala.

Only Tana River and Bura districts are affected in the Coast Province.

Dr Kosgey assured Kenyans that maize in other parts of the country is safe and that Kenyans had no cause for alarm. Nobody has died of aflatoxin which the minister said was first detected six weeks ago.

The National Cereals and Produce Board will buy the contaminated maize for destruction at Sh1,000 per 90 kg bag, while the good harvest will fetch Sh1,500.

Be allowed

No maize millers or traders will also be allowed to buy maize directly from farmers in the affected areas.

All millers countrywide will be required to test all maize earmarked for milling to ensure safety from aflatoxin, Dr Kosgey said.

A ministerial level committee has been constituted to over-see the mop-up exercise.

“District committees have also been constituted, overseen by the respective regional and provincial commissioners, for purposes of mopping up the contaminated maize which is currently being held by farmers and some traders. The exercise starts immediately,” Dr Kosgey said.

The ministries in the committee include the Office of President, Office of the Prime Minister, Agriculture, Public Health and Sanitation, Special Programmes and Youth Affairs and Sports.

The Kenya Bureau of Standards and NCPB are also in the team.