Kenyans have a lot to smile about after the government subsidised the price of maize flour after striking a deal with maize millers that sought to dissipate the public outrage over the rising cost of living.

The Ministry of Agriculture in a statement on Monday said the new prices will run for about a month.

According to the statement, a kilogram of maize flour will retail at Sh2, a 2kg packet of maize flour will retail at Sh100, a 5kg packet will go for Sh250 while a 10kg packet will retail at Sh490 during the specified period.

“The recommended retail price of flour should not exceed Sh100 for a 2kg packet, Sh250 for a 5kg packet and Sh490 for a 10kg packet,” the statement read.

The prices of maize flour shot up to Sh210 for a 2kg packet.

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Late last month, the United Grain Millers Association (UGMA) chairperson Ken Nyaga proposed that the government should talk with other maize importing countries to scrap export permit levi will the price of maize will come down and also the price of flour.

"If we can have direct government talk to scrap export permit levy, then the price of maize will come down and this will impact on the cost of the final product," Nyaga said.

The high price of basic commodities has gone up recently, especially with the increase in fuel prices occasioned by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.