Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has urged Kenyans not to panic over the prices of unga
Grade one 2kg packet of unga is currently retailing at an
average of Sh160, up from the average of Sh100 in January.
But speaking at the United Nations Food Systems Summit
(UNFSS+4) at the UN offices in Nairobi, Kagwe dismissed claims that maize and,
consequently, unga prices are set to increase further.
A 90-kg bag of maize is currently selling at Sh4,200, up
from Sh3,500 in January.
“We are aware of the maize stocks in the country and that
some individuals are holding maize, hoping prices will rise. Unfortunately for
them, that will not happen,” Kagwe noted.
He explained that the government will release maize from the
National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) strategic reserves to millers to help
stabilise prices.
“We will release some of the maize we have in the strategic
reserves to ensure the price remains stable,” Kagwe said.
The CS also revealed that Kenya has engaged the Tanzanian
government to allow maize imports.
“We trade maize freely within the East African Community,
and we are confident that maize will come into Kenya from Tanzania,” he added.
Kagwe reiterated that there is no need for panic over unga
prices.
“We will make sure
the price does not go up by releasing the strategic maize reserves we have,” he
assured.
Additionally, Kagwe announced that the ministry will soon
gazette the importation of duty-free yellow maize for feed millers to help reduce
the cost of animal feed.
“This will be imported directly by the millers who produce
animal feeds, and it is aimed at lowering the prices of animal feeds,” he
explained.
He concluded by saying that the ministry will soon release
the available maize stocks from the Strategic Food Reserve (SFR)
