The government has moved to ease pressure on households following a sharp rise in unga prices across the country.
Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe on Friday announced that Kenya has secured a commitment from Zambia to supply up to one million 90kg bags of maize.
The import deal comes as a two-kilogram packet of maize flour retails at between Ksh153 and Ksh168 in major supermarkets, with some outlets selling at Ksh170. Just three months ago, the same packet averaged Ksh130.
A 90kg bag of maize is currently trading at about Ksh4,200, up from Ksh3,800, piling more pressure on millers and consumers alike.
Kagwe said the imports are intended to cushion the country against looming shortages and boost the National Strategic Food Reserve, which currently holds fewer than 200,000 bags — far below the 1.7 million bag target.
The CS at the same time issued a stern warning to farmers accused of hoarding maize in anticipation of higher prices. He gave them a 30-day ultimatum to release their stocks, warning that failure to comply would trigger large-scale duty-free imports to stabilise the market.
Some farmers, particularly in the North Rift, have defended the move to hold onto their produce, citing unpredictable weather patterns and fears of reduced harvests this season. Others say they were waiting for the government’s earlier promise to increase the buying price from Ksh3,500 to Ksh4,000 per 90kg bag.
The maize importation comes amid a severe drought that has affected over three million Kenyans across 23 counties. The government has already released Ksh4.1 billion in emergency funds to scale up response measures.
Relief food distribution is ongoing in arid and semi-arid areas, with Ksh294 million allocated to support more than 100,000 vulnerable households. Water trucking operations and livestock off-take programmes are also underway to cushion pastoral communities.
As the country races against time to stabilise food prices, all eyes will be on how quickly the imported maize reaches the market — and whether it will bring down the cost of unga for ordinary Kenyans.
