The Kenyan government has announced the release of 200,000 bags of maize aimed at stabilizing the rising prices of maize flour, commonly known as unga. Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe revealed in a statement that the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) will allocate these maize stocks to miller associations and individual millers at a subsidized rate of Ksh 4,250 per 90kg bag. This initiative is part of the government’s efforts to cushion consumers from the escalating cost of maize flour.
To qualify for the allocation, millers must demonstrate their milling capacity and present key documentation, including a certificate of incorporation, a tax compliance certificate, and a Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) quality certificate. These requirements ensure that only legitimate and compliant businesses benefit from the subsidized maize distribution.
Recent official data highlights the urgency of this intervention. The average price of a 2kg pack of fortified maize flour increased by 2.6 percent, rising from Ksh 165.05 in March to Ksh 169.41 in April 2025. Similarly, the price of loose maize grain rose by 2.9 percent, reaching Ksh 66.60 per kilogram during the same period. These price hikes have put pressure on consumers, particularly low-income households that rely heavily on maize as a staple food.
The first batch of maize will be distributed through select NCPB depots in the North and South Rift regions, where payments have already started since last Thursday. To prevent stock hoarding and ensure fair distribution, millers allocated maize from the North and South Rift regions must make an initial payment covering 25 percent of their total allocation. Additionally, they are required to provide proof of milling and distribution of the flour before the remaining 75 percent payment is accepted. Millers must also submit a detailed maize utilization report as part of the monitoring process.
Cabinet Secretary Kagwe emphasized that all millers are expected to collect their consignments immediately, commence milling operations, and distribute the maize flour promptly upon completion of their payments. This government intervention is anticipated to ease the pressure on maize flour prices and improve food security for Kenyan households.
