Harvested maize being dried.[Photo/DailyNation]
Food substances were the leading imports in 2017 overtaking fuel and machinery.
The rise has been attributed to prolonged drought in some parts of the country.
Data from the national statistics office shows the food import grew by 243 per cent from the Sh27.2 billion in the third quarter of 2016 to Sh88.2 billion in the three months to September 30, coming second only to industrial supplies.
Fuel imports rose marginally from Sh55.2 billion to Sh67.9 billion while the bill on machinery and equipment fell from Sh83.2 billion in the third quarter of 2016 to Sh78.1 billion in the same period of 2017.
The need to build a safe level of national food stock widened merchandise trade deficit by 32.5 per cent to Sh289.7 billion from Sh218.7 billion in the third quarter of 2016, the KNBS says.
“This (wide deficit) was mainly on account of increased imports valued on free on board basis that was driven by growth in the import bill of food and petroleum products in the third quarter of 2017,” states KNBS.
The scrapping of import duty on maize, which was extended up to December 31, specifically encouraged traders to stock up an adequate level of white maize, allowing millers to make a two-kilogramme packet of flour available at Sh90.