Kenyans have continued to pay more for maize flour despite Agriculture CS Mutahi Kagwe's promise three months ago that the prices would not go up.
A spot check by Kenyans.co.ke has revealed that Kenyans have to part with as much as Ksh175 to get a 2kg bag of maize flour, with the prices ranging from Ksh159 to Ksh175 depending on the store and brand they choose.
The cheapest maize flour in the market goes at Ksh159, while the most expensive goes at Ksh175.
Meanwhile, a 90kg bag of maize is going for up to Ksh6,400 against Ksh4,800 in January.
When the year began, Kenyans were buying the flour for as low as Ksh120; however, since then, the prices have continued to increase gradually to Ksh149, then Ksh154, and now, the most expensive 2kg pack goes for Ksh179.
The increase in maize flour prices comes barely three months after CS Kagwe had advised Kenyans to calm down and assured them that they would not increase.
Speaking to the press on Monday, May 5, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe denied the claims that the prices had been hiked, stating that the country had sufficient reserves of maize to go around and ensure the unga prices do not hike.
"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," he stated.
Experts have alleged that the hike was caused by low supply after floods, delays in harvest, and rising demand from both millers and animal feed makers.
Reacting to the hike, a section of Kenyans online have called on the government, particularly the Ministry of Agriculture, to come up with sustainable solutions that would bring a permanent solution to the prices, which keep fluctuating, affecting the common mwananchi.
''This price hike hits hard at the heart of many families’ budgets. We need sustainable solutions that protect both farmers and consumers alike,'' a concerned Kenyan said.
Meanwhile, Kenyans have been advised to embrace other substitutes like cassava, yams, matoke, plantains, mokimo, and nduma to ease the pressure on maize production.
