Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga yesterday accused his political detractors of being behind the recent distribution of alleged poisonous maize in the country. The PM stated that the distribution and seizure of the cereals just before and after he flew out for an official visit to the US two weeks ago, were propaganda meant to tarnish his name.

He said those who tried to link him with the “toxic” maize were “witches” and that they were trying to run away from graft and shady deals they were involved in.

The 6,500 tonnes of maize earlier imported by the government from South Africa and declared unfit for human consumption is intact at the port of Mombasa, the PM said, adding: “not even a kilo has left.”

“They wanted to spoil my name, but let them know — I am as white as cotton wool,” Mr Odinga said.

Following a tumultuous electoral campaign that bore violence throughout the nation, Kenyans today survive in times of intuition and assurances from their political representation. Food is purchased, distributed and consumed, lives are lived based on the prescriptions from men like Odinga.

Across the pond and away from the risks that market shopping can bring to a family, however, lies valid trepidation and truly a new political risk. Blaming political opponents for poisonous maize has no real grounding and further diminishes the credibility of the assurance of leadership. This detracts, albeit slightly, from political and investor confidence.

This quick post is to prescribe to Prime Minister Odinga a transparent campaign of food standards initiatives - this can be undertaken as a CSR initiative from an opportunistic corporate sector already in the interior and looking to firm ties or via government channels themselves. However, whichever method goes into practice, time is of the essence.

One can’t bequeath responsibility of a heinous act of political violence without proof and one can’t assure a citizenry of a dilema being curbed without credibility. Odinga must establish both, and fast.