The Price of Unga Will Not Come Down Immediately – Linturi

Agriculture CS nominee Mithika Linturi has revealed that the current high price of maize flour will not be lowered immediately.

Speaking while appearing before the Parliament vetting committee on Friday, October 21, Linturi said that the prices could only be brought down if the government was ready to continue with subsidies.

The former Meru senator, however, said that the matter will be discussed once he is confirmed as the Agriculture CS.

"The price of unga I don’t think will come down immediately unless the government is willing and ready to continue with the subsidy to bring down the cost of unga. This is a matter that will be discussed and once the discussions are on we will be alive to the fact that we really have to do something so that our people can eat," Linturi said.

The former lawmaker also defended the lifting of the ban on genetically modified foods, maintaining that it came about due to a lack of food.

However, Linturi intimated that the government will educate farmers on the best crops to grow so as to increase productivity.

"If you look at what informed the lift of ban on GMO is that problem of lack of food. And we have to make choices. Do we let our people die or opt for GMO? Linturi posed.

His remarks come after President William Ruto said that the government will not subsidize the price of maize flour, opting to bring down fertilizer prices.

Upon being sworn into office, the Head of State signed an executive order to lower fertilizer prices from Sh6000 to Sh3500 for a bag of 50kgs.