Huge relief for Kenyans as Unga price finally drops

dennis kibet

May 1, 2017 12:06 PM

The price of a 2Kg packet of maize flour has dropped by...

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Lovers of Kenya’s most staple food Ugali have a reason to smile after the price of a 2kg packet of maize flour went down by about Sh23.

This comes after maize prices were reduced following the disbursement of cheaper grain from the strategic grain reserve.

A spot check in one of the supermarkets on Friday saw a 2kg packet of Soko, Ndovu and Jogoo maize flour brands retail at Sh126, Sh125 and Sh125 respectively.

The same brands were on April 3 retailing at Sh153, Sh151 and Sh147 respectively at the same supermarket.

The drop has seen a number of farmers release horded grains with fears that the prices may sharply reduce.

Kenyans have been in the past few weeks left frustrated by the high price of Unga which hit a record high of Sh153.

Also read: Tough times ahead as Kenya records worst inflation rate in 5 years

This was the past the 2011 peak of Sh150, with the government forced to intervene by introducing a raft of measures to reverse the trend.

Millers had on April 13 warned that the drop in maize flour prices is temporary, arguing that the cost will revert to market levels once cheap grains from the government is exhausted this week.

“It is important to appreciate that once the Strategic Food Reserve intervention maize is milled, we will expect finished product prices to adjust to market prices for maize grain at the time (cheap maize was released),” read a statement from the Cereal Millers Association.

dennis kibet