Affordable unga remains elusive for Kenyans who rely on maize meal as their staple meal, and Kenyans may be forced to dig deeper to bring the meal to their table following millers' recent warnings of a looming maize crisis in the country.

This is despite Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi's January commitment that the government would reduce the price of unga and rice by the end of February.

"I want to commit that by the end of February, the cost of unga will have gone down and that of Rice will also come down," Linturi said.

Mithika Linturi. PHOTO/COURTESY

The millers have envisaged an acute shortage of maize flour by March 2023 if the government does not intervene.

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According to the millers, the rising global prices have forced them to stop the importation of maize, causing a local shortage.

They also said if they import maize, they will have to transfer the cost to the consumers.

“A 90-kilogram bag of imported non-genetically modified (GMO) maize costs Sh6,000 meaning if we import, it will significantly raise the maize flour prices making it unaffordable to many Kenyans,” the millers said.

The situation is further aggravated by the fact that the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) silos are running dry and there is no stock for emergency.

This is because NCBA did not purchase maize during the 2022/2023 season allegedly because farmers hastily sold their produce to millers and other traders for fear of a price drop.

The Ministry of Agriculture said revealed NCBA only has 6 million bags of maize in stock, which is approximated to serve the country for only a month.

With the maize subsidies that cushioned consumers against harsh prices gone, they will have to feel the pinch, especially with the current harsh economic times.