Thousands of maize bags lie uncollected as Samburu families languish in famine

Part of the maize stock bought by the Samburu County government lying at the National Cereals and Produce Board’s Maralal Depot. PHOTO | GODFREY OUNDOH

What you need to know:

  • The stock is part of the strategic famine relief food for Samburu County.
  • The Sh11 million maize has been lying at the Maralal Depot for the last two weeks.

The National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) has confirmed that it has in its custody 10,000 bags of maize purchased by Samburu County for distribution to famine-stricken families in the county.

According to the NCPB, the Sh11 million stock has been lying at the Maralal Depot for the past two weeks and has not been collected.

NCPB Maralal Depot Manager Sammy Kipng'etich Mutahi told the Nation this morning the maize stock arrived two weeks ago from Eldoret.

"We are waiting for the county government to conclude its logistics and come to collect the maize. It has been lying here for the last two weeks," he said.

The stock is part of the strategic famine relief food for Samburu County.

About 20,000 bags are expected to be brought to the Maralal Depot for emergency food security back-up.

The board is repackaging the maize into 50kg bags as it waits for the county famine monitoring teams to collect it for distribution.