By TIMOTHY MBAYA

ODM party leaders have placed cartels behind the recent calls to have maize imported into the Country.

They said the cartels were out to take advantage of maize shortage in the country and make illicit profits.

Speaking in Migori yesterday, Busia Women Representative Florence Mutua and ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna called on the government to control the exercise to rid it of preying cartels.

“Cartels have been running out of money, as a plan to replenish their money they will prey on the current maize shortage,” Mutua said.

Sifuna urged the government to fill the deficit by sourcing maize from local farmers who were stranded with their harvests.

“This is a means of crippling the economy be neglecting local farmers, this is the same way they did for collapsed sugar industry,” Sifuna said.

Rangwe MP Lillian Gogo urged the government to reconsider its decision as the move would give cartels a leeway to disrupt the economy.