This archive report was first published on 1 July 2019.
Kenya on Brink of Food Crisis as Maize Imports Stalemate Continues ¶
Kenya is facing a severe maize shortage, with the Strategic Food Reserve (SFR) having less than one million bags of maize in stock, barely enough to last the country for more than two weeks.
As of last month, the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) had stocks of four million bags, of which three million is being released to millers to supplement their limited stocks.
Maize millers and major supermarkets have started reporting supply shortages, with Unga Limited chief executive officer Nick Hutchinson saying millers are already suffering a supply shortage, even after increasing their offtake price to Sh3,200 for a 90 kilo bag.
"There could be a serious shortage that may lead to higher prices of flour in the market if there is no quick intervention," said Mr Hutchinson.
Naivas Supermarkets chief operating officer Willy Kimani also reported a tightening supply of unga from processors, saying "Supply is tightening."
As a result, all the brands of maize flour have so far crossed the Sh120 per two-kilo packet mark, with Pembe selling for Sh124, Jimbi Sh120, and Soko at Sh122 in Nairobi.
The government had projected that the available stocks would be depleted at the end of this month and was banking on imports to bridge the deficit, but the Cabinet is still hesitant to make a decision on the lifting of taxes to allow for duty-free maize imports.
Published on July 1, 2019 by GERALD ANDAE in News.
