More than 100 small scale millers today camped outside the National Serials and Produce Board South Rift regional headquarters in Nakuru demanding access to the maize stored at the facility.
They claimed that NSPB has denied them access to maize and only the large scale millers were allowed to purchase the maize selling at Sh2,650 per 90 kilogram bag.
According to Mr Benjamin Kariuki a small scale miller who operates in Kaptembwa a majority of the small-scale millers operate in the informal settlements had closed business for three weeks due to lack of the commodity.
He said it was unfair for the board to give the first priority to the large-scale millers who mostly serve customers in the urban centers while ignoring the rest of the population.
We have been camping here for a whole week hoping to have access to the maize but every day we have been leaving the place disappointed. We are almost closing down our businesses and yet the large scale millers have been buying the maize from the same stores, said one of the milers.
However, the Acting Silo Manager Mr Alfred Korir blamed the crisis on brokers who have been paying individuals to purchase maize on their behalf since there is a maximum allocation set by the board.
