This archive report was first published on 1 November 2019.
As the country grapples with a hike in the inflation rate, households are bracing for hard times as it becomes increasingly difficult to place a meal of ugali on their tables.
According to the latest statistics, the inflation rate has risen to 4.95 per cent in October, compared to 3.83 per cent in the previous month. This increase is largely driven by the rising cost of food and alcoholic beverages.
Unfortunately, this is not the first time that the cost of a 2kg packet of maize flour has hit the Sh140 mark. In fact, it is the second time in two years that prices have reached this level, with the first instance being during the 2017 drought.
Despite the government's promise to maintain unga prices at Sh 100 per 2kg packet, the reality on the ground is far from this promise. Today, a 2kg packet of maize flour is retailing at between Sh130 and Sh140, depending on the brand.
The situation is further complicated by the impending wrangles between the Ministry of Agriculture and the Strategic Food Reserve over the management of the commodity.
Permanent Secretary for Crops and Research, Hamadi Boga, confirmed the increase in unga prices, attributing it to a shortage of maize in the country. He noted that the situation will come down with the impending harvest, but warned that prices will rise again in March 2020.
Mr. Boga also pointed out that the inadequate 2019/2020 long rains have made the situation even more challenging, with the harvest expected to be nine million bags short of the 44 million bags harvested in 2018/2019.
