This is an open letter to some Kenyan millers who do not mean well for millions of their Kenyan customers. This is a letter to those millers who are only interested in making money and not the quality of both the maize and wheat flour they are selling to unsuspecting Kenyans.
Hey Kenyan millers, why do you want to kill us? Why do you want us to die of malnutrition? Why are you breaking the law by not fortifying both your maize and wheat flour? What is your intention? Is it to make money or to have all of us killed?
The study done by TechnoServe about some of you is worrying. Can you imagine that 40 percent of wheat flour and 60 percent of maize flour that you millers are selling are not fortified? Why? And to add salt to an injury is that you have been knowing it all along.
Dear millers, do you know that according to the World Bank, malnutrition is one of the world’s most serious but least addressed development challenges. And do you know that you have been contributing to malnutrition to millions of Kenyans?
Dear millers, do also know the economic costs of undernutrition, in terms of lost national productivity and economic growth? Do you know that the costs range from 2 to 3 percent of GDP in some countries, and up to 11 percent of GDP in Africa and Asia each year?
Hey Kenyan millers, do you know that Kenya’s adult population faces a malnutrition burden. 27.2 percent of women of reproductive age have anemia and that you might be the cause of this through your unfortified flour? Do you really care about human life?
Are you actually aware that the national prevalence of under-five stunting is 26.2 percent, which is greater than the developing country average of 25 percent, and that your unfortified flour might just be playing a role?
READ: Why Your Palatable Plate Of Ugali Might Be Your Poison
Allow me to name a few of you that want us dead. The maize flour sold by both Alpha Grain Millers and Buffalo Millers Limited, and sold in Kenya by Amesi Kenya Limited were found to be non-compliant with the fortification requirements.
At the same time, the wheat flour made by Alpha Grain Millers, Golden (Uzuri) Ltd, Lakefront Millers Ltd, and United Millers Limited (all sold in Kenya by Amesi Kenya Limited), was found to be non-compliant with the fortification requirements.
Wheat Flour by BuffaloMilers Ltd and sold in Kenya by IMCF Kenya Limited was found to be non-compliant, same as the wheat flour by M.M.C.S, sold in Kenya by Amesi Kenya Limited.
The maize and wheat flour by Capwell Industries Limited was found to be partially compliant same as maize flour by Jamii Millers, Mamamillers Limited, and Million Corporation of Kenya.
Dear Kenyan millers, do not kill us. We want to live.
READ: 40% Of Wheat Flour, 60% Of Maize Flour Not Fortified In Kenya