Kenya’s maize is the most expensive in East Africa with the prices having crossed the 40,000 shilling mark per tonne making Ugali a luxury for many households.
A 90-kilogram bag of dry maize is currently retailing at an average of 3,600 shillings, up from just 1,200 shillings three months ago. In some areas like Kakamega, the price of a 90-kilogram of dry maize has spiked to over 4,000 shillings.
Nairobi and Mombasa are among areas the commodity is retailing the highest at 4,050 and 4,059 shillings for every 90-kilogram bag.
The prices in other East African countries are cheaper. For instance, in Mwanza, Tanzania, a 90-kilogram bag of maize is going for 2,196 shillings while in Mbeya, Tanzania, the price is at 1,764 shillings.
In Dar es Salaam and Tunduma, the prices are at 2,745 and 1,647 shillings respectively. In Uganda (Lira and Tororo), the price of 90-kilogram dry maize is at 3,141 shillings and 3,168 shillings in Kampala.
In Burundi, (Gitega and Ngozi), the price of a 90-kilogram bag of dry maize is at 2,736 shillings. The instant spike in maize prices in Kenya has been blamed on farmers who held on their produce, leading to a shortage of the same across the country.
The price increase in maize has led to an increase in the prices of maize flour. A 2-kilogram packet of maize flour is retailing at an average of 115 shillings from just 85 shillings three months ago.
The delay in the onset of long rains made matters worse. The majority of large-scale farmers did not plant maize this season and experts warn of a widespread hunger across the country this year and 2020.
The weatherman has already told Kenyans that the current rains will end in July and followed by a long drought that will hit hard on most Kenyans.