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It has now emerged two families were the largest beneficiaries of the government subsidy on maize launched in mid 2017 following a shortage of the commodity that left Kenyans in 'hunger'.
The Standard reports that two Mombasa-based billionaire families pocketed Sh9 billion spent by government on the subsidy program.
Sources revealed that a majority of the 6.7 million bags of the subsidy plan were imported into the country by three companies linked to billionaire Merali and the Patel family’s Export Trading firm. The two families have been in the business of buying and selling the valued commodity for decades, and have constantly continued to controversially earn billions from the hunger crises over the years.
The Meralis, through their firm The Commodity House, reportedly imported the last 38,500 bags of the subsidy plan in the Christmas week.
Speculation has it that the importers ensured the imported maize landed in the country, but not distributed to millers, before the end of the subsidy in order maximize profits. Grain Bulk Handlers, which operates the only terminal where dry cargo ships are discharged is said to have raised concerns about the piling maize stocks.
“In total, there are about 135,000 metric terms of maize and wheat in our silos awaiting collection,” Michael Mwakamba, the general manager of Grain Bulk, said weeks ago.
Undee the subsidy programme, importers were allowed to import maize and sell it to government for Sh3,600 per bag. Millers would then buy the same commodity from state grain reserve at Sh2,300 a bag.
State officials said a United Kingdom international trading firm known as Holbud, also linked to Mr Merali, would import the maize under the subsidy programme.
Little is publicly known about ETC, owned by the Export Trading Group, despite being among the biggest players in commodity trading.
Termination of the maize subsidy has already caused an an increase in maize flour prices as the market adjusts to the shock.
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I mean: These SUCKers were EnABLED by the SHIThole Presidents of Kenya has had Over the Years since Independence. Then we Go Around SHITting Trump for Correctly giving us Africans the SHIThole Title.
Somebody had to make profit idiot.Ama were u thinking that the maize will fall from heaven........Raila stole Kazi kwa vijana billions n maize scandal billions.And am not giving excuses but this media wants us to do what reporting such a bullshit crap about maize.As I said in every open tender bizness somebody have to make profit.Bush n former vice benefited when they started Iraq war,Killed innocent women kids destroyed a good country while their ships were stealing oil,winning fake contracts,selling arms.So can guest 1 include this shitholes idiots too
You are always very bitter, are you incapable of putting your point across without calling people names. You need to grow up and and realize this forum has divergent views so insults aside.
50 years after independence and Kenyans cannot feed themselves yet everywhere we look there is a mall being built.Food is a basic human right we are still importing maize sugar and wheat .I guess that is why we will remain a developing country
Ufisadi am not a bitter man at all bro n I wish u can know me!What I hate is the way wakenya in diaspora always talk shit,comment shit always negatives about everything in their home country where 99.9% of yr family resides??Open maize tender was open,I know many churches n other Kenyans who brot maize but this fake writer here is not quoting them,he is just quoting few n am sure Mayb he wanted to b part of the deal??So such pple writing negatives comments all the time without positives act like idiots.
@Annoynmous, feeding oneself and one's family is a personal responsibility. The government role is not to feed every poor and lazy person but to facilitate agricultural productivity and economic growth to ensure that hard working Kenyans can adequately feed themselves and have surplus to build malls, hotels and other businesses which help feed many more people by providing them with gainful employment to be able to feed themselves and their families. So, you should applaud those who have built malls not disparage them as if they committed crimes or stole maize or other foodstuffs from poor lazy people waiting for their fake Joshua to deliver manna from heaven. You and others of your ilk can't achieve enough success to end perennial famine till you end stereotype negativity against hard working Kenyans. If those Indian firms don't make a profit, who would import maize and wheat next time there is severe shortage??? Certainly, not your fake Joshua for free!!!!
Chotabai did not do anything criminal.However, Kenya should contrive ways to be self sufficient food wise.
Hon Kenjuu you have no idea of what a basic human right but then again your honorable title speaks for itself.You obviously got little to no education as to what the responsibilities of a government are but then again ignorance is no defence .Raila and NASA are not in power your imposed president is.I refuse to engage in mediocrity just go shopping in your malls sometimes it is best to let sleeping dogs lie.
These SUCKers were EnABLED by the SHIThole Presidents Kenya has had Iver the YeaRaila since Independence. Then we Go Around SHITting Trump for Correctly giving us Africans the SHIThole Title.