Kenya to import up to 1 million bags of maize from Zambia as unga prices surge
The arrangement is intended to cushion the country against potential shortages and ease pressure on consumers facing rising unga prices.
KENYA – Kenya has secured a commitment from Zambia to supply up to one million 90-kilogram bags of maize, as the government moves to stabilize flour prices and replenish dwindling strategic reserves amid prolonged drought.
The announcement was made by Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development Mutahi Kagwe, who confirmed the arrangement is intended to cushion the country against potential shortages and ease pressure on consumers facing rising unga prices.
Maize flour prices have been on an upward trajectory for the past three months, with a two-kilogram packet of the cheapest brands retailing at Ksh160–Ksh170 (USD 1.24–1.32), up from Ksh130 (USD 1.01).
A spot check across major supermarket chains showed leading brands trading between Ksh153 and Ksh168 (USD 1.19–1.30).
Meanwhile, a 90-kilogram bag of maize is selling at Ksh4,200 (USD 32.56), compared with Ksh3,800 (USD 29.46) previously.
The supply deal comes as millers report tightening stocks, while farmers in the North Rift region hold back grain in anticipation of further price increases.
The National Strategic Food Reserve currently holds fewer than 200,000 bags, well below the target of 1.7 million bags, raising concerns within the grain trade about short-term availability.
In response, the Agriculture CS issued a 30-day ultimatum to farmers accused of hoarding maize, warning that failure to release stocks would trigger large-scale duty-free imports designed to flood the market and push prices down.
According to farmers, stockpiling is driven by expectations of higher prices and concerns about reduced output due to difficult planting conditions linked to erratic rainfall.
Earlier, the government had indicated plans to raise the maize purchase price from Ksh3,500 (USD 27.13) to Ksh4,000 (USD 30.98) per 90-kilogram bag, a move that many producers were awaiting before selling their stocks.
Despite the incentive plan, millers are still confronting a low supply of the commodity.
As a raft of measures, the country’s millers’ association moved to initiate high-level engagements with key maize-producing neighbours, Zambia and Tanzania, in a bid to stabilize maize supply for Kenya’s milling sector.
According to the association, the move seeks to ensure uninterrupted milling operations, protect consumers from price volatility, and support national food security for over 50 million maize consumers.
“By strengthening cross-border partnerships, aligning standards, and fostering transparent pricing mechanisms, we can build more resilient and responsive grain markets that benefit farmers, millers, traders, and consumers alike,” the association noted.
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