Kenya: Government accused of serving 'famine-brokers'

By Magdalene Mukami and Andrew Wasike

NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) – A Kenyan opposition presidential candidate on Wednesday accused President Uhuru Kenyatta and his government of intentionally causing the hunger in the East African nation for the benefit of “famine-brokers.”

Raila Odinga from the National Super Alliance said that Kenyatta’s government caused the food shortage in the country, particularly of the maize which is used to prepare the Kenyan staple Ugali.

Odinga said that the government created the crisis and went as far as Mexico to import maize flour so as to benefit government-protected cartels, ignoring neighboring countries who produce maize of equal quality.

“We are saying that the government is responsible,” Odinga told reporters in the capital Nairobi.

“It did not have to exist, this has been a deliberate deception by the government with the intention of assisting famine-brokers to take advantage of the drought situation.”

In a quick response from the government, Agriculture Minister Willy Bett said the hunger crisis was a regional problem and the government had no part in it, accusing the opposition of using the hunger crisis for political fodder.

“We refuse to be derailed by sideshows for political expediency. It would, therefore, be very unfortunate for anybody of whatever status in society to use the food situation due to natural causes, for political mileage,” he said.

According to the government, over 3 million Kenyans are facing starvation due to the ongoing drought. The rising cost of living has also left many unable to afford food.

Kenya’s presidential elections are set for Aug. 8.