MidnightWatcher – Prophecy in Motion

By Gilbert Kimutai – “Local leaders in Bomet county have asked the government to declare a disease that has destroyed maize crops in South Rift a national disaster and compensate the affected farmers.

The leaders said the disease is threatening the national food security and should be declared a disaster as the region will have no harvest this season. They also demanded that the government give alternative seeds to plant. ‘We demand that the farmers be compensated by the government either in monetary form or any other form for the loss they have incurred due to the outbreak,’ said former Bomet mayor Leonard Barsumei in a statement

Barsumei said farmers have suffered irreparable economic damage due to the disease saying the government is fully responsible since they did not act swiftly to avert spread of the disease. ‘We do not want to engage in blame game for the disease but the government is dragging in its feet in finding solution despite outcry from farmers,’ he said. They also expressed dissatisfaction on a visit by top Agriculture ministry official over the weekend to the region saying they did not give enough time to farmers to air their views.

Mr. Barsumei said the minister’s visit and her delegation was a Public relation gimmick meant to blind fold farmers that the government was working on a solution to the menace. Bomet Mayor Joyce Korir said the ministry should send official to access the damage and get the true picture so that farmers can compensate farmers. ‘If the government can had the ability to help flood victims and IDP through compensation then who are the farmers that are feed the entire nation not to be compensated?’ posed Mrs. Korir.” Read more.