A ship carrying about 30,000 metric tonnes of maize has arrived in Mombasa, signalling the reduction in prices within the next two weeks. [Photo/ Citizen TV]Just days after President Uhuru Kenyatta took bold steps to reduce the prices of essential food commodities, a ship carrying about 30,000 metric tonnes of maize has arrived in Mombasa. The supply, imported from Mexico, is meant to boost local stocks and reduce the retail prices of maize floor, which stand at Sh150 per 2kg. While receiving the consignment in Mombasa on Friday, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Willy Bett said the retail price of maize flour will reduce in about two weeks. “What we will then see from here is that the prices will now come down,” the CS said. Earlier, the government released more than 700,000 bags of maize from the strategic reserves in order to bring down the cost of the commodity. A 2kg-maize flour is expected to cost Sh110 within the next 14 days. The government created an enabling environment, according to the cabinet secretary, by reducing the tax levied on imported maize. This allowed the private sector to import the maize freely. The CS said that more maize will be imported within the next few days from various countries. “All these maize, which is coming from the destinations I am talking about will definitely stabilize the price of maize flour, and in extension the price of 'unga',” Mr Bett said, revealing that more maize was on the way from South Africa, Zambia and Ethiopia. “We have seen the last of the worst situation as far as pricing (of maize flour) is concerned,” the CS added. The CS revealed that drought also affected maize, milk and sugar production. Commenting on the high price of sugar, the cabinet secretary said the retail price is likely to come down within two weeks — because the government had opened the door for sugar from outside the Comesa countries. “We believe within another two weeks, the price of sugar should come down,” he told reporters. According to the Agriculture ministry boss, drought affected milk production by half. He said with the current rains, the production will likely to increase again.

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