[Transport PS Paul Maringa. He has affirmed the commitment of the state to lower prices of unga in the country. Courtesy: The Star]
Transport PS Paul Maringa has moved to debunk concerns surrounding the 29,900 tonnes of maize imported from Mexico last week.
Speaking on Monday in Mombasa, Maringa clarified that it was South Africa that had imported the white maize from Mexico, before selling off the excesses to Kenya through Inter Africa Grains PTY of Johannesburg.
He added that the maize was stored in Durban.
He further dismissed that the government had imported the maize, observing that the consortium of corn was imported by private millers.
“The ship only takes five days to sail from South Africa, and that is why the maize arrived quickly,” Maringa said.
“We expect the millers to reciprocate the government’s [gesture] by expediting the production process so wananchi can start accessing the flour on supermarket shelves soon,” he added.
He affirmed the government's commitment to ensuring that the price of maize flour and other commodities stabilize.