Bags of maize. The government has imported 30,000 tonnes of maize from Mexico, but millers say the supply is still insufficient. [Photo/ citizentv.co.ke]
Flour prices may remain high as the maize the government imported from Mexico on Tuesday is not sufficient to stabilize local flour supplies, millers have warned.The government is presently banking on maize imports to spring up maize flour supplies and consequently cut prices for the staple which presently stand at over Sh150 per two-kilogram packet.The skyrocketing food cost has become a campaign tool ahead of the August election as the opposition bashes government over laxity to cushion Kenyans from the high cost of living.President Uhuru Kenyatta is seeking reelection and is keen on doing everything at his disposal to suppress basic food prices.“The maize imports are intended to increase the maize stocks in the country and subsequently lower the price of unga,” the government said on Thursday in a statement.A millers’ lobby, however, said Kenyans should not celebrate as the 350,000 bags of Mexican maize may not be able to shoulder the current maize shortage and subsequently cut flour prices.“It is important to note that only a small number of millers will have access to maize from the first vessel; the majority of millers will continue to purchase from the market,” Cereals Millers Association (CMA) said in a statement after the arrival of the Mexican maize in Mombasa.“The CMA does not expect maize flour prices to stabilize until adequate imported grain stocks are distributed across all the mills, which is expected to settle at between Sh125 and Sh135 per two kilogram packet.Kenyans on average consume three million bags of maize per month and the Mexican consignment can’t last even for a week.The imported maize is selling at between Sh3,500 and Sh4,400 for a 90-kilogram bag while locally produced maize retails at Sh4,750.Another vessel with imported maize is expected to dock at the Port of Mombasa on May 28.The Kenya Revenue Authority two weeks ago opened a maize importation window to allow Kenyans import duty free maize to cushion an acute domestic shortage.