This archive report was first published on 11 July 2019.
Kenya is bracing for a maize flour crisis as prices are set to skyrocket to Sh. 150 in the next month.
According to Agriculture Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri, the current rate of Sh. 120 may increase to more than Sh. 150 if measures are not taken to address the shortage of over 19 million bags of maize that need to be imported.
“Prices of a two-kilogrammes packet of maize flour is currently retailing at Sh120 but this might increase to more than Sh.150 in the next one month if right measures are not taken,” he said.
However, the ministry's efforts to import maize are being hindered by a recent revelation that 124,500 bags of maize held by the State in the Strategic Food Reserve (SFR) are contaminated with aflatoxin.
As a result, more than half of the contaminated maize is to be destroyed through incineration, while the balance will be used in the processing of animal feeds.
Consumers should be aware that large doses of aflatoxin can lead to acute poisoning (aflatoxicosis), which can be life-threatening, and may also cause liver cancer.
Kenya's maize crisis is further complicated by the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) running out of funds to light storage silos and carry out fumigation, putting maize worth Sh. 9.2 billion at risk of going to waste.
