Kenyans breath a sigh of relief after Unga prices drastically drops
Effective from Tomorrow a 2kg packet of maize flour will retail at less than Sh100.
Prices of basic commodities such as milk, sugar and potatoes has been at an all-time high since December this year.
A 2kg packet of maize for instance has been retailing at a steep price Sh150, forcing many Kenyans to skip meals.
Agriculture CS Willy Bett on Tuesday addressed the media and stated that the prices of foodstuff will now be cheaper after the government resolved to source and sell maize to millers at an average cost of Sh2,300 per 90kg bag.
"As a result a 2kg packet of maize flour will retail at Sh90. This is will be effected from tomorrow (Wednesday)," he said, noting rapid measures were being taken to end the shortage.
The government was forced to do this in order to avoid a scenario where some retailers and wholesalers would buy the maize and then hound it so that they can continue profiteering from the shortage.
"This is just a temporary intervention until the product stabilises and stocks normalise and will last until the next harvest, after the long rains" The agriculture CS added.
The maize shortage and steep prices had pushed Kenyans to the wall with some even resorting to cross the border and going as far as Uganda to buy Maize where It considerably cheaper.
The high cost of living in the country was threatening Uhuru Kenyatta's re-election bid and it remains to be seen if the prices of other basic commodities will also drop.
Last week the government had to import 29,900 metric tonnes of maize from Mexico in order to ease the high cost of basic commodities.
Many factors has been blamed for the food crisis among them drought and lack of proper planning.
So Effective from Tomorrow a 90kgs maize sack will cost ksh 2300, a 2kg packet of maize flour retails at ksh 90 and 1 kg will cost ksh 47.
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