This archive report was first published on 30 August 2021.
Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) recently banned 27 brands of maize and baking flour, citing non-compliance with set standards. However, the move has led to a significant drop in prices, benefiting consumers.
As of now, a two-kilo packet of maize flour is retailing at below Sh100, with popular brands like Jogoo, Soko, and Mama selling at Sh99, Sh96, and Sh96 respectively. This is a substantial decrease from their previous prices of Sh109, Sh104, and Sh104.
The lower prices are attributed to the falling cost of maize, which accounts for 80 percent of the total charges involved in flour milling. A 90-kilo bag of maize is now selling at Sh2,600, down from Sh2,900 last month.
The Ministry of Agriculture has projected a surplus of 12 million bags of maize by the end of this month, which is expected to further stabilize prices. According to the ministry, the surplus is due to cross-border imports and the balance arising from the long rain crop harvested from the previous season.
"The maize balance sheet projected to end of August 2021 shows a surplus of about 11.9 million bags based on estimated 450,000 bags imports by the private sector from the region and harvest estimates from the long rains of approximately 7.3 million bags," said the ministry.
