Maize Price Hits Ksh 110 For A 2Kg Tin In Bungoma

The price of maize in most parts of Bungoma County has hit an all-time high with a 2-kilogram tin now retailing between 100 and 110 shillings. This means that a 90-kilogram bag is more than 4,000 shillings, the highest in almost 20 years in most parts.

To make matters worse, the rains have failed to come as expected. Farmers who sowed their seeds two weeks ago when they saw clouds gathering have been left to bank on hope for nothing has germinated ever since. The harvest might never come this year.

“Fo the first time, we are waiting on lorries from other counties to come with maize to sell to us. The fact that we are treating this as something normal is scary. It is not normal,” said Dr. John Walubengo, who is also a known maize farmer.

Read More: Anticipated Drop in Land Under Maize Likely to Cause Food Crisis in Kenya

In the neighboring county of Kakamega, things are even worse. A 2-kilogram tin of maize is going for between 120 and 140 shillings in most places. A 90-kilogram has also hit an all-time high of 4,800 shillings in most parts of the county.

In Bomet county, the price of a kilogram of maize is on average 45 shillings with the 90Kg pack selling at an average of 3,800 shillings. The prices are slightly lower in Kitale and Eldoret at 3,600 and 3,700 shillings respectively in the two towns.

Read More: 90KG Bag of Maize Retails Highest in Kakamega at Ksh.4,400

In Nairobi and Mombasa, the price of a 90-kilogram bag is going for an average of 4,300 shillings. Some places have witnessed a surge hitting as high as 4,500 shillings. In Kisumu, the price is at 4,200 shillings although retailers say the commodity is hard to come by.

As the rains continue to be ‘held in the skies,’ hunger is sweeping across the country. At least 21 counties in Kenya are facing an acute water shortage with people having nothing to eat.