Maize Prices Hit A Record High Of 4,500 Shillings

Maize prices have hit a record high of 4,500 shillings for a 90-kilogram bag in most parts of the country.

In most parts of Kenya, ugali is increasingly becoming a luxury as the prices of one of Kenya’s most stable food continue to balloon.

Just a month ago, the price of a 90-kilogram bag of dry maize retailed at the price of 3,600 shillings across the country.

Six months ago, a 90-kilogram bag of dry maize was retailing between 1,200 and 1,800 shillings but spiked by more than 100 percent when the long rains delayed beyond the expectations of farmers.

On Thursday evening, the price of a 90-kilogram bag of dry maize was going for 4,000 shillings in Bungoma County. This was an increase from 3,200 shillings one month ago.

In the same county, Bungoma, consumers are buying a 2-kilogram tin of dry maize at 100 shillings, up from 85 shillings one month ago.

“Ugali is our stable food. It is now becoming too expensive to afford. There is no hope of the prices coming down soon,” one of the consumers in Bungoma County told a local media house.

In Kakamega County, the prices are higher than those in Bungoma. A 90-kilogram bag of dry maize in the county is going between 4,500 and 5,000 shillings.

Consumers in the same county, Kakamega, are buying a 2-kilogram tin of dry maize between 130 and 150 shillings, up from 100 shillings a month earlier.

In Nairobi, the price of a 90-kilogram bag of dry maize was quoted between 4,000 and 4,200 shillings on Thursday evening, up from an average of 3,600 shillings.

In most towns in the coastal regions including Mombasa, the price was quoted at an average of 4,300 shillings.

The price of a 90-kilogram bag of dry maize in Kitale, Eldoret, and Nakuru is still below the 4,000-shilling mark. In Kitale, it was quoted at 3,800, Eldoret at 3,600 and Nakuru between 3,600 and 3,800 shillings.

Also Read:

• Is CS Kiunjuri Faking Shortage of Maize in the Country to Allow Importation?- Parliament
• Ugali To Continue Being Expensive After Government Dropped Plans To Import Maize

Maize Flour

Kenyans who do not buy maize directly but depend on buying maize flour from retail shops are also feeling the hit.

The price of a 2-kilogram packet of maize flour has spiked by more than 32 percent from 87 shillings to between 115 and 150 shillings.

Economic analysts say the price of a 2-kilogram packet of maize flour might surpass the 160-shilling mark if the government will not move to calm the situation.

Maize millers have blamed the government through the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) for holding onto the maize and refusing to sell it.

Do we have a maize shortage in Kenya?

As to whether there is an acute shortage of maize in Kenya, no one really knows, not even the Ministry of Agriculture.

According to the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture Mr. Mwangi Kiunjuri, there is a shortage of maize in the country that can only be solved through massive importation.

The CS wanted the government to import a total of 12.5 million bags of maize “to fill the void left by the biting shortage.”

The good CS of Agriculture later made an about-turn on the maize importation following protests from a section of Kenyans and some leaders.

The Chairman of Kenya Food Reserve Dr. Noah Wekesa had faulted Kiunjuri’s move to want to Import maize saying the country has enough maize.

But, where is the maize?