Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture Mutahi Kagwe announced a commitment from Zambia to supply up to one million 90kg bags of maize to Kenya. The move aims to prevent shortages as unga prices rise due to drought and farmers hoarding grain. A 90kg bag of maize now sells for Ksh4,200, while a 2kg packet of unga retails at Ksh160.
Unga prices have risen across the country, particularly in the North Rift region, after millers exhausted their stocks and farmers began hoarding maize in anticipation of higher prices. The government issued a 30-day ultimatum to farmers to release their reserves, or it would allow duty-free imports to stabilize prices.
CS Kagwe stated that the Zambian commitment will bolster the National Strategic Food Reserve, which currently holds fewer than 200,000 bags against a target of 1.7 million. The drought has affected over 3 million people in 23 counties, prompting the government to allocate Ksh4.1 billion for emergency responses.
Jackson Kosgei, a farmer from Moiben, said, “Many milling companies have already run out of stock and yields have not been good. This situation will cause a major shortage,” attributing low production to climate changes during planting.
David Maina, a trader, noted, “The cost of maize has increased and it has forced us to raise unga prices to continue operations.” Meanwhile, water trucking and livestock off-take programs continue in affected areas like Mandera and Turkana.
A spot check revealed unga prices ranging from Ksh153 to Ksh168 in major supermarket chains.
