The national government has warned maize millers against taking advantage of the ongoing drought situation in some counties to hike the prices of maize flour.
In a cabinet meeting chaired by President Uhuru Kenyatta on Thursday, the government vowed to take stern action against millers who will be tempted to hike Unga prices and other basic food commodities.
In a statement issued by State House, the government said that it has taken necessary measures to ensure that prices of basic commodities remain stable.
“As a step to further mitigate the drought situation, Cabinet urged pastoralist communities to start destocking while their animals are still in good condition,” the statement by State House read in part.
The government also noted that the drought situation in a number of counties among them Turkana, Mandera, Garissa, Marsabit and Wajir has worsened from the alert stage to the alarm stage.
The government, however, assured Kenyans that the situation is under control, noting that a committee chaired by the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government has been set up to monitor and respond to the drought situation.
Several counties have been hit with starvation caused by the prolonged drought.
On Wednesday, the Council of Governors (COG) pleaded for help from the national government and development partners to mitigate the biting starvation.
The Council warned that more counties are likely to experience a food crisis as the prolonged weather persists.
Already prices for basic commodities like flour has gone up owing to the prolonged dry weather.