Kenyans across the country should prepare for hard times ahead after the maize flour millers said they will raise the price of the precious commodity The millers accuse farmers of causing artificial shortage of maize due to low prices offered to them by the government.
Speaking to the press on Monday, October 29, United Trade Millers Association Vice Chairman Ken Nyaga said the prices are set to rise from the current KSh 75 to KSh 100 per 2kg packet.
“The government should come up with proper strategies to streamline the maize industry. There is no maize from the farmers and we cannot sustain the current market at KSh 75 per 2kg packet,” said Nyaga. “The farmers are refusing to sell their maize because the government promised to buy the maize at KSh 3,000 per 90 kgs bag. So they do not want to sell a 90 kg bag at KSh 2,300,” he added.
The announcement came barely weeks after President Uhuru Kenyatta issued a stern warning against traders who were selling maize flour above the KSh 75 per 2kg packet as set by government. The president said there was a surplus of maize in the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) silos as they had 56 million maize bags, higher than the 52 million that the country consumes yearly.
On Thursday, October 11, officials from Nairobi County led by Licensing Officer Michael Akoko raided several business premises in the city targeting traders who were selling maize flour above the recommended price.