Makueni County Distributes Ksh 96 Million Drought Resistant Seeds After Bill Gates’ Visit

Residents of Makueni County have been given climate resistant seeds worth Ksh 96 million by the county government.

The new development came two days after Microsoft CEO Bill Gates’ visit to the county where he held a meeting with Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr and other government officials.

The billionaire philanthropist also called on Makueni residents to embrace Genetically Modified (GMO) foods.

The county government distributed 149 tonnes of maize, sorghum (127), green grams (85) and 40 tonnes of beans with each ward expected to benefit.

“We have mapped out every region in the county, drier and low rainfall parts like Kibwezi and lower Mbooni will be given sorghum and green grams to plant

“Farmers in cooler and higher rainfall zones like Kilome, Kaiti and parts of Makueni and Upper Mbooni will receive maize and beans to plant,” Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili said.

This comes at a time when Kenya is grappling with a severe drought over insufficient rainfall.

In a bid to to save the situation, government will allow free importation of Genetically Modified (GMO) maize, Trade, Investment, and Industry Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria announced.

In a statement on Thursday, November 17, the CS said the free importation will run for the next six months, adding that the move is aimed at mitigating the food crisis in the country.

The directive will also apply to imported non-GMO maize.

“In view of the food situation in the country, I shall be signing instruments to allow duty free imports of GMO and non GMO Maize for the next 6 months,” CS Kuria said.