Where Is The Ksh 100 Maize Flour?

Kenyans are finding it difficult to access the Subsidized maize flour a week after President Uhuru Kenyatta’s directive to reduce the price of the flour to 100 shillings. Many supermarkets across the country are experiencing long queues as residents scramble for the flour.

This has seen many retailers ration the most-sought commodity making it difficult for large families to access enough. A spot check by the Soko Directory reveals that many shoppers are reporting as early as 6 am to buy flour. This has seen many supermarket shelves run empty during the day, with others having a few brands of premium flours that do not fall under the subsidy program.

‘’If you want to buy the 100 shillings maize flour then you have to come early because there are so many people and the supply is still low,’’ a Quickmart supermarket attendant within Nairobi’s CBD told Soko Directory on Monday.

Last week the government released 8 billion shillings to finance the four-week subsidy program which saw the price of a 2kg packet of maize flour drop to 100 shillings from 210 shillings. According to agriculture cabinet secretary peter Munya, the pending arrears amounting to 500 million shillings from the subsidy program announced in 2017 when prices surged to 189 shillings from 70 shillings were also cleared.

Under the subsidy program, the government is supposed to compensate millers 105 shillings for every two-kilo packet they sell to retail outlets. As a result, the 500 grams bag of the commodity would retail at 30 shillings while 55kg would go for 2,250 shillings.

President Uhuru Kenyatta urged millers to exercise social responsibility by not hoarding maize flour to occasion a shortage that would prompt an increase in prices.

On Sunday millers announced the possibility of widely available subsidized flour as the government moves to finalize the process of introducing subsidies. However, this has not yet been reflected as the maize flour supply is still low according to some retailers.