The price of a two-kilogramme packet of maize flour (Unga) is unlikely to come down until July, the Cereal Millers Association (CMA) has announced.
According to CMA, this is when the country is expected to have adequate stocks to meet its needs.
The millers explain that the steep rise in the staple’s prices is the result of a severe maize scarcity that is unlikely to be resolved until enough imported stocks land in the country.
“Since in the initial weeks of the import programme some millers will have access to imported maize and others will not, the CMA does not expect maize flour prices to stabilise until adequate imported grain stocks are distributed across all the mills,” CMA said in a statement.
“This is expected to be in late June or early July. When this happens, prices are expected to settle at the Sh125 – Sh135 per two kilo packet range.”
The millers said the inflow of Ethiopian maize, which was expected to ease the shortage, slowed down in the past week having brought to the market limited quantities that are priced at between Sh4,200 and Sh4,400 a bag.
The first consignment of Mexican maize is expected to land in Kenya at a price of between Sh3,500 and Sh4,400 for a 90kg bag.
Kenyans have been in the past few months left frustrated by the high price of Unga which hit a record high of Sh150.