afrol News, 27 January - Kenya has waived import duty on maize as food shortages tighten grip on more than 10 million people. The waiver comes as government stock piles are nearing the collapse and traders are battling to get white maize in the world market.

Finance Minister Uhuru Kenyatta said maize imported between 16 January and 16 July will be cleared through customs without payment. The move, he said, is aimed at ending the artificial shortage created by the alleged mismanagement of maize stocks by the board and politicians.

Kenya shook up the state-run National Cereal Board and fired 14 officials amid investigations into corruption in the country's grain industry.The preliminary investigations show that the country may have lost close to a Sh1 billion ($12 .8 million) in irregular maize dealings involving officials at the board and politicians.

A consultancy firm that was hired to study the structure, management and operations of the board and to prescribe any changes revealed gross incompetence in the board.

The minister added that two general managers, in charge of operations and finance and administration, have been sent on terminal leave and their positions will be advertised. The 12 other managers have also either been sent on early retirement, terminal leave, or summary dismissal.

Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki launched an emergency appeal of US $ 403 million early this month amid an acute food crisis in the country.

Kenya, sub-Saharan Africa's fifth-largest corn producer, only has enough corn to last until February, after poor rainfall and post-election violence in the first two months of 2008.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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