Raila sees foes in bad maize saga

• PM claims ‘witches’ out to tarnish his name and tells them he’s as white as wool

Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Sunday accused his political detractors of being behind the recent distribution of alleged poisonous maize in the country.

The PM said the distribution and seizure of the cereals just before and after he flew out for an official visit to the US two weeks ago, were propaganda meant to tarnish his name.

He said those who tried to link him with the “toxic” maize were “witches” and that they were trying to run away from graft and shady deals they were involved in.

The 6,500 tonnes of maize earlier imported by the government from South Africa and declared unfit for human consumption is intact at the port of Mombasa, the PM said, adding: “not even a kilo has left.”

“They wanted to spoil my name, but let them know — I am as white as cotton wool,” Mr Odinga said.

The PM said his office was not involved in buying maize and that it only intervened if there was a problem.

Mr Odinga said the maize police impounded in various parts of Central, Nairobi and Eastern provinces had been tested in government laboratories and given a clean bill of health.

He wondered how the contaminated maize could have been transported from Mombasa to the areas without being seized.

Public Health minister Beth Mugo and Naivasha MP John Mututho have been at the forefront, claiming that contaminated maize held at the port of Mombasa was being sold in local markets.

On Sunday, Mr Odinga announced government plans to feed all needy Kenyans in rural and urban areas.

The PM and Special Programmes PS Mohamed Ali, said the government and the World Food Programme were currently feeding 5.1 million hunger-stricken Kenyans, mostly in rural areas.

The “targeted subsidy programme” hopes to reach the urban poor.