NAIROBI — The Kenyan government has released 200,000 bags of maize from its Strategic Grain Reserve in an urgent move to bring down the cost of maize flour, a daily staple for millions of households.
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe announced on Monday that the grain will be sold to millers at a subsidised rate of Ksh 4,250 per 90kg bag. The aim, he said, is to cushion families already struggling with high food costs.
“We know the pressure Kenyans are under,” said Mr Kagwe. “This intervention is meant to ease the burden at the dinner table.”
The National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) will distribute the maize through select depots in the North and South Rift regions. Millers have already begun submitting payments and documentation to access their allocations.
To qualify, millers must show their milling capacity and provide key documents, including tax compliance and quality certification from the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS).
There are also strict controls in place to prevent stockpiling. Millers must pay for 25 percent of their allocation upfront and can only access the remainder once they prove the flour has been milled and distributed. They’re also required to submit a report showing how the maize was used.
The move comes amid rising public concern over soaring food prices. According to official figures, the average price for a 2kg packet of fortified maize flour rose by 2.6 percent in April from Ksh 165.05 to Ksh 169.41. The cost of loose maize grain has climbed even higher, up nearly 3 percent to Ksh 66.60 per kilogram over the same period.
With inflation already stretching household budgets, the government hopes this release will create immediate relief. But experts say much depends on the pace of distribution and transparency of the process.
“This should help in the short term,” said food security analyst Beatrice Nyambura. “But for real change, we need consistent investment in local maize production and better storage infrastructure.”
For now, the government is urging millers to act quickly. “All consignments must be collected immediately,” Mr Kagwe said. “Our expectation is that milling and distribution will begin without delay.”
Whether this intervention will stabilize unga prices in the long run remains to be seen. But for many Kenyans facing rising costs at every turn, any sign of relief is welcome.
