At least 70 maize flour milling companies will benefit from the government’s subsidy programme that will run for four weeks, Agriculture CS Peter Munya has said.
Munya has said the programme is open to registered millers that are interested in participating in the subsidy programme and those that have signed individual contracts with the ministry.
He spoke during a media briefing on the update on the implementation of the national maize flour subsidy programme on Friday.
This follows the pronouncement by President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday 20, 2022 that maize flour will retail at Sh100 down from Sh250 for a 2kg packet.
Munya assured Kenyans that there is no rationing of the subsidised maize flour and they should stop panic buying as has been experienced in some supermarkets.
“Currently, we are not experiencing a scarcity of maize flour, but the price is high, affecting access by some households. As long as imports continue to flow and the long rains fall availability and access will later stabilise," he said.
"There is no need to panic and stock excess maize flour. Just buy enough, as you normally do. There will still be enough in the market from the end of August 2022.
"However, we are monitoring the situation closely and if the need arises we might limit purchases to each retailer. There may be a limit of 4-6 kgs per retail customer to ensure that many people access the flour."
The CS, however, noted that re-sale is prohibited and the government shall use relevant authorities to charge those engaging in any form of malpractice.
He said the maize flour situation will stabilise after the early harvest of the long rain season hits the market.
“We are monitoring production, and we expect that the maize deficit will ease after the end of August 2022 and the prices will begin to come down,” Munya said.
(Edited by Tabnacha O)
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