Soy MP David Kiplagat Issues Ultimatum to Kenya Seed Company Board Over Subsidy Delays

Soy Member of Parliament David Kiplagat has issued a stern warning to the Board of Kenya Seed Company, accusing it of deliberately delaying the implementation of the government’s maize seed subsidy programme.

Speaking today in Mombasa during the flagging off of 2 million bags of fertilizer alongside the Principal Secretary for Agriculture, Kiplagat said the Board’s actions were undermining efforts to support farmers across the country.

“It is unacceptable for the Board to engage in ‘delay by procedure’ despite clear directives issued by H.E. the President last week,” Kiplagat stated. He emphasized that the subsidy programme had already been catered for in the Supplementary Budget and should be implemented without further hesitation.

The legislator criticized claims by the Board that system price adjustments required external expertise, dismissing them as unjustified. “These are straightforward processes that do not warrant unnecessary delays or reliance on foreign specialists,” he said.

Kiplagat further described the Board’s conduct as “monkey business” and called for immediate action to ensure farmers benefit from subsidized maize seed prices without delay.

In a firm ultimatum, the Soy MP warned that failure to act by tomorrow would trigger intervention from the Ministry of Agriculture. “If the Board does not implement the subsidized prices immediately, we will call upon the Principal Secretary to take decisive action and shape them out,” he declared.

The maize seed subsidy programme is a key government initiative aimed at lowering input costs and boosting food production, particularly for smallholder farmers. Delays in its rollout have raised concerns among stakeholders in the agriculture sector, especially at a time when the country is working to strengthen food security.

The Ministry of Agriculture Kenya has yet to issue an official response regarding the Board’s position or the next course of action.

Mombasa — March 31, 2026

Soy Member of Parliament David Kiplagat has issued a stern warning to the Board of Kenya Seed Company, accusing it of deliberately delaying the implementation of the government’s maize seed subsidy programme.

Speaking today in Mombasa during the flagging off of 2 million bags of fertilizer alongside the Principal Secretary for Agriculture, Kiplagat said the Board’s actions were undermining efforts to support farmers across the country.

“It is unacceptable for the Board to engage in ‘delay by procedure’ despite clear directives issued by H.E. the President last week,” Kiplagat stated. He emphasized that the subsidy programme had already been catered for in the Supplementary Budget and should be implemented without further hesitation.

The legislator criticized claims by the Board that system price adjustments required external expertise, dismissing them as unjustified. “These are straightforward processes that do not warrant unnecessary delays or reliance on foreign specialists,” he said.

Kiplagat further described the Board’s conduct as “monkey business” and called for immediate action to ensure farmers benefit from subsidized maize seed prices without delay.

In a firm ultimatum, the Soy MP warned that failure to act by tomorrow would trigger intervention from the Ministry of Agriculture. “If the Board does not implement the subsidized prices immediately, we will call upon the Principal Secretary to take decisive action and shape them out,” he declared.

The maize seed subsidy programme is a key government initiative aimed at lowering input costs and boosting food production, particularly for smallholder farmers. Delays in its rollout have raised concerns among stakeholders in the agriculture sector, especially at a time when the country is working to strengthen food security.

The Ministry of Agriculture Kenya has yet to issue an official response regarding the Board’s position or the next course of action.