Kenyan farmers have challenged a decision by the government that has paved way for farmers in Zambia to grow maize exclusively for export to the Kenyan market.
According to court documents, the farmers represented by the Farmers Party of Kenya say it's not logical for Kenya to engage Zambia to produce maize as it is facing a similar challenge.
They claim Zambia is also importing maize to satisfy the demands of its citizenry.
"The impugned decision is not only indiscreet but unfeasible for reasons that Kenya has more arable land than Zambia," they said.
The party indicates that Kenya has approximately 5.8 million hectares and Zambia 3.8 million hectares of arable land.
In March, the government made a decision to contract farmers in Zambia to carry out large-scale farming for export into Kenya.
While signing the MoU in Lusaka last month, Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi said the move will help in achieving food security.
The deal has seen Kenya allocated at least 50,000 acres of land for growing maize in the current planting season.
But the party in its petition have asked the High Court sitting in Milimani to intervene and stop Linturi from taking any steps towards the implementation of the MoU between Kenya and Zambia.
Also sought is an order compelling Linturi to provide them with a copy of the MoU between the two countries to produce maize in Zambia for export to Kenya.
The respondents being the Attorney General and Linturi are yet to be served with the papers to effect a response.
The party argues that the decision is illegal and has violated certain sections of the Constitution one of them being Article 10.
The said article provides for public participation but the party claims the decision was made without involving Kenyan Farmers and Agriculture stakeholders.
In the same breadth, the farmers have said Linturi usurped the power of the Kenyan people in making a decision touching on their nationality and interests without involving them.
"The same undermines the national value of patriotism as it furthers the interests of Zambia at the expense of Kenyan farmer’s interests," the party said.