90-Kg Bag Of Maize Hits Ksh 6,000 In Bungoma

A 90-kilogram bag of maize has hit 6000 shillings in Bungoma County. This is the highest price of the region’s staple food in history. A 2-kilogram tin is now retailing at 150 shillings, up from 80 shillings two months ago with households feeling the heat.

“Things are set to be worse than they are now. Crops have generally failed and there is no hope of the prices going down any time soon. Families have to forfeit most of the means like breakfast and lunch just to have something in the evening,” said Ambrose Chetambe, a farmer from the region.

Related Content: Food Crisis Looms as Kenya Faces Wheat, Maize Shortage

Residents of Kakamega County are also paying through the nose to have a plate on Ugali on the table. A 90-kilogram bag of maize is currently retailing between 6,400 and 6,800 shillings. This too is the highest in the region. Those in Kisumu are paying between 6,300 and 6,600 shillings for a 90-kilogram bag of maize.

Maize is a bit affordable in Kitale town with a 90-kilogram bag retailing between 5,200 and 5,600 shillings. Kitale is in Trans Nzoia, one of the country’s food baskets. There is, however, little hope for this as many farmers dropped maize farming due to price frustrations and failed rains.

Related Content: 2kg Packet Of Maize Flour Hits 150 Shillings Across Supermarkets

Those rushing to find favor in maize flour on supermarket shelves have no luck for the price of a 2-kilogram packet just shot up to 155 shillings from 140 shillings three weeks ago. Some brands are selling theirs as high as 170 shillings. Analysts say the prices will continue rising.

The government has often blamed the raging war between Ukraine and Russia for the increased food prices in the country. One wonders whether all our maize has been coming from either Ukraine or Russia for all these years.