Kenyans are set for tough times after millers warn of a looming maize flour shortage in the country.
In a letter addressed to the Agriculture Cabinet Secretary, Peter Munya, dated Thursday, April 27, the millers asked the government to intervene and ensure a stable and steady supply of maize in the country, citing a shortfall in the harvests over the last one year.
The millers indicated that the current supply of maize in the country can only sustain Kenyans living in the western part of the country for three to four weeks.
They further called on the government to seek assistance from neighboring countries in addressing the shortfall by allowing them to import the requisite volumes.
“We are calling on government-to-government intervention with Tanzania to release about one million bags from their food reserve to Kenya. We also advise that the government should work with the Zambian government to get maize to the county.
“The next harvest is in Narok in September with the big harvest in North Rift expected in mid-October. Until then, we rely on imports from the region to fill the gap,” read part of the millers' letter.
Nonetheless, the millers indicated that importation from neighboring countries would not mitigate the shortfall entirely, noting that countries such as Uganda also faced poor harvests in 2021.
The warning by millers comes barely days after an increase in prices of maize flour. The price went as high as Ksh148 per 2kg packet.
The millers also warned that the prices will go higher if the government fails to intervene.
"Price on the shelf at Ksh135–140 per two-kilogram bag is expected to rise further in the next few days. Millers have less than two weeks’ stock,” the millers stated.
Farmers across the country are set to harvest in August but there could be further shortfalls as many planted without fertilizer whose price had skyrocketed at the time of the planting.
The government, however, intervened and released Ksh5 billion subsidy for the important farm input.
