Maize flour prices surge in Kenya amid grain shortage, feed competition
According to KBNS, the price hike is attributed to intensified competition for maize between human food processors and animal feed manufacturers.
KENYA – Kenya’s maize flour prices have surged for the second consecutive month in April 2025, reaching an average of KES 169.41 (US$1.26) per 2-kilogram packet, up from KES 165.05 (US$1.23) in March, marking a 2.6% increase, according to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS).
This is the highest price recorded since February 2024, when the same packet was selling at KES 172.75 (US$1.29). Compared to October 2024, households are now spending KES 24.77 (US$0.18) more per packet, representing a 17.13% jump.
According to KBNS, the price hike is attributed to intensified competition for maize between human food processors and animal feed manufacturers.
The Cereal Millers Association notes that many millers are operating on reduced schedules due to limited grain availability. The Ministry of Agriculture reports that the price of a 90-kilogram bag of maize has risen by approximately 26% over the past three months.
In response, the government announced in early April the duty-free importation of 5.5 million bags of yellow maize for animal feed production to alleviate pressure on white maize supplies.
Mutahi Kagwe, the Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary, emphasized that this measure is designed to address the escalating competition between animal feed producers and human food millers for the limited white maize stocks.
According to Kagwe, redirecting animal feed manufacturers to utilize yellow maize is expected to decrease the pressure on white maize supplies, thereby making it more accessible and affordable for human consumption.
However, the duty-free import plan has faced challenges, including inadequate global supplies, higher freight and insurance costs, and a shortage of the dollar, leading to minimal imports by eligible millers and traders.
Kenya’s maize production challenges are further compounded by low yields, averaging 1.81 metric tonnes per hectare, compared to Tanzania’s 1.62 and Zambia’s 2.20 metric tonnes per hectare. Factors such as pests, diseases, improper fertilizer use, and a general lack of innovation in farming contribute to the low productivity.
Despite the current maize supply challenges, however, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) projects a positive outlook for Kenya’s maize sector. In its March Grain and Feed Annual report, the USDA forecasts Kenya’s maize production to rise to 4.4 million metric tons in the 2025/2026 marketing year, a 15.8% increase from the 3.8 million metric tons recorded in the previous season.
The USDA attributes the boost in production to a 9.5% expansion in the area dedicated to maize cultivation, increasing to 2.3 million hectares, 200,000 hectares more than the prior year.
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