Security ministers to be grilled on Kenya safety

Are Kenyans safe?

That is the question Internal Security and Defence ministers are expected to answer in Parliament next week.

The question was raised by Central Imenti MP Gitobu Imanyara amid rising fears by communities living on the border with neighbouring Sudan over repeated attacks.

There have also been reports of security officers patrolling the border being killed.

Kenya has been attacked on its borders with Sudan, Somalia, Uganda and now, Ethiopia.

A recent attack on the Kenyan-Sudan border left one dead, five missing and several others injured.

The ministers are required to tell the House what measures have been taken to secure the northern border and how effective Kenya’s security forces are to deal with attacks.

Meanwhile, maize farmers can find relief in a government promise to release Sh800 million in the next 10 days to buy their produce.

Farmers in areas with bumper harvests have complained of delays by the government in buying the maize.

The National Cereals and Produce Board is expected to pay Sh2,300 per bag.

Agriculture minister William Ruto told Parliament that the money had been released.

The House heard that 20 million bags were harvested against a target of 28 million.

National annual consumption is 38 million bags.

Mr Ruto said the strategic grain reserve stood at 2.496 million 90kg bags of maize.

So far, the government has bought 894,389 bags from last year’s produce, drawing fire from leaders of affected areas.

The House also heard that Sh1.5 billion had been set aside to buy maize after the short rains.

MPs Danson Mungatana (Garsen, Narc Kenya), Fred Outa (Nyando, ODM), Victor Munyaka (Machakos Town, ODM-K) and Philip Kaloki (Kibwezi, ODM-K) were worried about farmers in their areas.

Mr Mungatana asked if farmers in Tana River should expect losses as all attention was focused in the North Rift.
He was assured the depots would be open for deliveries.

Reports by Caroline Wafula, Alphonce Shiundu and Njeri Rugene