Kenyans’ woes are set to pile as the price of “unga” is likely to be increased by at least Sh4 for a 2kg pack.
Last Wednesday, more than 94 small-scale millers met in Nairobi and agreed to raise the price of the 2kg maize packet from Sh90 to Sh98 owing to the 16 VAT fuel levy effected by Treasury CS Henry Rotich.
However, on Friday last week, President Uhuru Kenyatta proposed the reduction of the fuel levy to 8% and returned the Finance Bill 2018 back to Parliament.
Because of the new development, if MPs approve Uhuru’s proposal, millers will increase the price by Sh4.
On Tuesday, NASA lawmakers and their Jubilee counterparts held parliamentary group meetings and agreed to back the President. However, NASA gave conditions that should be met within a year. The bill will be discussed in a plenary sitting on Tuesday (today).
Chairman of United Grain Millers Association Peter Kuguru said they increased the price because of the high cost of production.
In an interview with the Star on Monday, Kuguru said they will share the fuel levy with consumers to reduce the burden.”The price will remain so if we get a bumper maize harvest,” he said.