It’s Official! Unga now retails at KES 47 per Kilo.

A two-kilogramme  and a one-kilogramme packets of the government-subsidised  Soko maize meal that will now cost Sh. 90 and Sh. 47 respectively.

The government has directed all millers to sell maize flour at Sh90 for a 2-kg packet in a new subsidy scheme set to be announced later.

This is after the State opted to buy imported maize and sell it to millers at Sh. 2,300 for a 90-kg bag to tame the rising cost of the staple. The millers are expected to pass on the benefit of the subsidy to consumers by ensuring that the processed and packaged maize flour is sold at a marked shelf price not exceeding Sh. 47 per kilo and Sh. 90 for a 2kg packet.

Under this government arrangement, the Ministry of Agriculture shall undertake a promotion campaign to create public awareness of the subsidy programme. 

The millers will use their sifted maize brand names in the subsidy programme together with other brands for Cereal Millers Association participating members in the promotion campaign. Hence, millers will process and brand the flour bearing the government of Kenya label.

Millers have also authorised to ensure that all its distributors and retailers across the country have adequate stocks and that they do not sell the flour exceeding the marked prices.

“Millers will process, package and distribute the maize flour from this subsidy programme in packets clearly and boldly marked ‘GoK Food Subsidy’ in line with the approved subsidy mark,” stated one of the resolutions passed after the meeting.

The shortage of maize has raised the cost of staple to a high of Sh. 144 currently per 2kg packet as limited stocks have pushed the cost of a 90kg bag to Sh. 4,500.

About 30,000 tonnes of maize have so far been imported from Mexico to address the shortage, with an additional consignment expected in a fortnight.