Azimio la Umoja Presidential candidate has hit back at Deputy President William Ruto over the DP’s statement following the reduction in the price of maize flour.
Speaking in Nakuru county on Tuesday, July 19, Raila said he asked President Uhuru Kenyatta to reduce the price of the maize flour after Kenyans he met during the campaign trail complained about its high cost.
“Everywhere I visited, Kenyans were complaining about the cost of maize flour. I spoke with Uhuru and asked him to lower the price of unga. Yesterday he did so, didn’t you see?” Raila who was accompanied by Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui said.
The Azimio la Umoja presidential flag bearer accused his Kenya Kwanza counterpart of politicizing the reduction in the price of maize flour.
“After Uhuru reduced the price of Unga, you saw that man from Sugoi (Ruto) complaining that this is politics. He wants Kenyans to continue suffering. He doesn’t want Kenyans to get a reprieve,” Raila said.
After the price reduction on Monday, DP Ruto accused the government of knowingly exposing Kenyans to tough times.
According to Ruto, the move to cut the cost of maize flour was arrived at just because the August polls are three weeks away.
“The government wants to reduce the price of Unga because elections are near. The same government initially blamed the high prices on the Ukraine – Russia war, and the war is still ongoing, so why did you leave Kenyans to suffer?” The DP stated.
In its recent announcement, the Ministry of Agriculture said that the cost of maize flour will be cut by half beginning in August.
In a deal between the government and millers, the cost of a 2-kilogram packet of maize has been cut by half meaning it will retail at Ksh100.
Initially, the 2kg packet used to retail at Ksh210 which strained Kenyans already battling a high cost of living.
Meanwhile, a 1-kilogram packet will retail at Sh52 and the 500-gram packet at Sh30.
“The Ministry of Agriculture shall subsidize the price of maize flour being produced/sold by the miller for a period of four (4) weeks from the date of this contract,” the agreement by the Ministry and millers read in part.
