The government has released 200,000 bags of maize to millers to help stabilise the prices of flour ahead of the anticipated shortage.
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe made the announcement even as he hinted at a possible maize flour shortage and a surge in prices.
In a statement on Monday, May 26, Kagwe said the expected shortage has prompted the government to source from the National Strategic Grain Reserve (NSR), which is being disbursed to millers across the country.
"We have initiated disbursement of maize, which will first be distributed to select depots in the North and South Rift Regions," Kagwe said, noting that the move will be fundamental in cushioning Kenyans against food shortages and possible maize flour price hikes.
According to the ministry, the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) will distribute the maize to registered millers in the region at a price of Ksh 4,250 per 90 KG bag.
"The government has released the first batch of 200,000 bags of maize from the National Strategic Grain Reserve (NSR) to registered millers to help stabilise flour prices and curb a potential shortage," the CS said.
"NCPB started receiving payments for the maize on Thursday, 22nd May 2025, with sales and collections expected to increase starting Monday, 26th May 2025. The subsidy is expected to stabilise maize and maize flour prices, cushioning Kenyans from any price spikes," he said.
Kagwe has noted that millers will first be required to provide a report on their milling capacity, display a certificate of incorporation, a tax compliance certificate, and a Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) quality certificate before they can be allocated the maize.
Additionally, the ministry has noted that the millers should make an initial payment of 25 per cent of their total allocation and then provide proof of milling and distribution of flour before the full allocation of the maize is allowed.
Kagwe has noted that the millers will further be required to table a maize utilization report before the payment of the remaining 75 per cent of the allocation is accepted.
"Upon payment for their maize allocations, all millers are expected to immediately collect their consignments, begin milling, and distribute the flour. Millers are currently picking the maize from NCPB outlets across the country, mainly Eldoret and Moi's Bridge," the CS's statement reads further.
The announcement comes weeks after the CS, in a press briefing on Monday, May 5, denied claims of a flour price surge, asserting that the country had had sufficient reserves of maize to cushion Kenyans against the unga price hikes.
"There should be no panic about the price of unga going up. It is not going to go up. We are going to ensure that it doesn't go up by releasing the strategic maize reserves that we have. We have got strategic reserves," the CS said.
According to the Government's Spokesperson, Isaac Mwaura, the government would be importing 5.5 million bags of yellow maize to help stabilise the price of unga.
