Relief maize worth 2.25 million shillings that had been delivered to the residents of Mbeere South Constituency in Embu County has been destroyed.
The relief maize that was meant to salvage a dire famine that had hit the constituency was destroyed after Public Health officials deemed it unfit for consumption to the starved residents of Mbeere South.
The relief maize which was packed in 500 bags had been delivered in July for distribution to the drought victims in Mbeere South Constituency but an analysis by health officials put doubt on the safety of the maize.
Patrick Waganagwa, the Embu County Health Executive, noted that they received the maize to alleviate hunger in Mbeere South and North Sub-counties, whose residents were starving following the failure of rainfall for a number of seasons.
The Embu County Health Executive briefing the Press in his office on 9th December 2019 where he said that once they received the maize, they had to first test it at the Government Chemist in Nairobi.
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“Some of the grains were found decayed while others had a peculiar color and infested by pests,” the Embu County Health Executive said.
Patrick Waganagwa also noted that the maize had been delivered to Mbeere by the national Government in a contaminated state.
“The conditions of the maize could have caused serious diseases to the consumers,” Patrick Waganagwa noted.
Mbeere South constituency has already received another consignment from the National Government that is set for testing at the Government chemist before it can be released for distribution to the residents.
“We are working with the Ministry of Interior to ensure our people are not poisoned anywhere in this region,” Patrick Waganagwa said.
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