Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has urged Kenyans to remain calm despite the recent spike in maize and unga prices, assuring the public that the government is taking concrete steps to stabilise the market.
Speaking during the United Nations Food Systems Summit (UNFSS+4) held at the UN offices in Nairobi, Kagwe addressed concerns about the escalating cost of maize and flour. A 90-kg bag of maize currently retails at Sh4,200, a sharp increase from Sh3,500 in January. Consequently, the price of a 2kg packet of grade one unga has risen to an average of Sh160, up from Sh100 at the beginning of the year.
Kagwe, however, dismissed speculation that prices would continue to rise, attributing the surge partly to hoarding by some traders. “We are aware of the maize stocks in the country and that some individuals are holding maize, hoping prices will rise. Unfortunately for them, that will not happen,” he stated.
To curb the price hike, the CS announced that the government will release maize from the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) strategic reserves to millers. “We will release some of the maize we have in the strategic reserves to ensure the price remains stable,” he assured.
Additionally, Kagwe revealed that Kenya has initiated talks with Tanzania to facilitate maize imports under the East African Community trade framework. “We trade maize freely within the East African Community, and we are confident that maize will come into Kenya from Tanzania,” he added.
The ministry is also planning to gazette the importation of duty-free yellow maize specifically for feed millers. This initiative is expected to bring down the cost of animal feeds, which have also experienced inflationary pressure.
Kagwe concluded by reaffirming the government’s commitment to food security and affordability. “We will make sure the price does not go up by releasing the strategic maize reserves we have,” he said, urging the public not to panic as mechanisms are already in place to address the situation.
