Bumula MP Nelson Wamboka has weighed in on the impending importation of duty-free maize, rice and sugar to attain food security.
The government is from February set to import 900,000 metric tonnes of duty-free maize, 600,000 metric tonnes of rice and 100,000 metric tonnes of duty-free sugar not later than March 31.
Treasury CS Njuguna Ndungu made the revelation in a gazette notice dated December 19.
"It is notified for the general information of the public that the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning directs that 900,000 metric tonnes of white maize grain and 600,000 metric tonnes of milled rice may be imported into the country duty-free from the 1st February 2023 to the 6th August, 2023," the notice reads in part.
Wamboka said the move will disadvantage local farmers who are at this moment still in the harvest season of maize.
"Kitale farmers have maize, how will that go? You are saying you want to reform sugar industry, that is the backbone of Western Kenya.
"You are killing us President Ruto, you are killing us by importing sugar and maize, what is left for us as Luhyas? Nothing! Maize is gone and sugarcane is gone," he said.
The duty-free importation of food items is in line with state interventions to contain the current food shortage driven by prolonged drought in some parts of the country and the rising cost of basic food products.
"I'm appealing to my fellow Luhyas, wake up and let us not be sycophantic in this government. Let us demand for what is rightfully ours," Wamboka said.
The Ministry of Agriculture delayed the importation of the cereals to next year to allow millers to mop up all local produce after the harvest season.
Farmers have been against the imports saying they will lower prices of their produce on the market.