Sh90 maize flour. The flour is still available in many outlets despite the government saying earlier that the maize subsidy programme would elapse on October 30. [Photo: Nairobi Wire]The Sh9 billion maize subsidy programme that brought about Sh90 maize flour per 2kg packet is not yet over.A spot check in various Thika town shops shows that the 'cheap' unga is still available in many outlets despite earlier statements by the government that the programme would come to an end on October 30 pave the way for the purchase maize from farmers after the harvest."The floor is still available from where I buy my stock and is still branded GoK. As long as we continue to get it from our suppliers,  we have no reason to review the prices either downwards or upwards," Mary Wamuyu, a shopkeeper in Thika Town said on Tuesday.The chairman of the Cereal Millers Association, Nick Hutchinson on Tuesday said millers are still receiving imported maize from the government, reports The Star."Trucks are still transporting maize to Nairobi from Mombasa, though there is a delay because of the heavy rains at the Coast. This has led to a delay in offloading of the maize at the Port of Mombasa," Hutchinson told The Star on Tuesday.The sources from the Ministry of Agriculture, the paper adds, said that what millers are getting is maize stock that was imported before October 15."This is the stock that is being cleared at the port, but there is a delay in offloading. The stock of the imported maize could last for a month. Until then, millers are not keen to buy maize from farmers since the imported maize is available at Sh2,300," added the source.Hutchinson said that millers are yet to receive any communication from the end of the subsidy programme, adding that they have only been reading reports in the papers that it has ended.He, however, said that millers are hoping to have a meeting with Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Willy Bett soon to discuss the way forward.

Share news tips with us here at Hivisasa