This archive report was first published on 10 July 2020.
As of July 10, 2020, Kenya is facing a severe maize shortage, with only 1,880,704 bags available to sustain millers until the end of the month, according to the Ministry of Agriculture.
This is a dangerously low level compared to the average 4,250,000 bags consumed every month, raising questions about the quality of planning at Kilimo House, the ministry headquarters.
With the proper harvest season at the country's bread basket regions starting in September, the ministry should have foreseen the shortfall and taken necessary steps to ensure adequate supply.
Importers need at least six weeks to ship in the staple from markets meeting standards, making it doubtful that the country can plug the big shortfall before the current supply runs out.
As a result, consumers will be forced to dig deeper into their pockets to buy their favourite maize flour brands, an unfair burden on millions of households already dealing with reduced incomes and job losses.
The price increases would be avoidable if planners did their work properly, emphasizing the need for proper planning in these uncertain times.
