The cost of ugali meal is expected to fall after the government announced to release Sh 1 billion worth of maize from the strategic reserves.
The deal to release the maize to the millers was brokered by Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua, Interior CS Fred Matiang’i and PS Karanja Kibicho. The maize will be released to cereal millers who have paid for the board.
The team advised the head of the strategic reserves to release the maize to the millers but to only limit supply to those who had paid up.
The cereal millers will get an exclusive buying price Sh2300 per bag against the market price of Sh3300 as they are currently selling.
“Those who have paid can now collect their stocks starting Thursday. Our aim as SFRT is to ensure that there is sufficient grain in the market to safeguard the interest of consumers,” said Dr Wekesa.
The state subsidized food is meant to address the current high price of maize meal thatis retailing at an average of Sh 120 per 2kg bag against the normal price of between Sh 90 to Sh 100.
The high cost of maize meal has left many Kenyans deprived of their right to eat their staple food at an affordable price.
By today afternoon, NCPB was set to release the maize. The prices of the ugali meal will not fall immediately after. Normally, it may take a few weeks before the maize enters the distribution chain and finally to the stores.
Earlier, the millers and the association of livestock feed manufacturers had raised an alarm of commodity scarcity would NCPB not release the maize to the millers.