The price of maize flour has breached the Sh200 mark for a two-kilogramme packet, the highest to ever been witnessed in Kenya’s history with the situation expected to worsen in the coming days.
The increase in maize flour prices is set to put upward pressure on inflation as Kenyans are grappling with a rise in the cost of other basic goods.
A two-kilo packet of Jogoo brand is selling at Sh204, Pembe at Sh208 and Ajab is going for Sh206 from Sh150 last week while premium brands like Amaize and Hostess are now retailing at Sh204 and Sh220 respectively from Sh167 a week earlier.
Maize accounts for 80 per cent of the total cost in flour production, and the current jump of the 90kg bag of maize flour to Sh6,500 from Sh5,200 last week spells more pain for consumers.
Millers have warned the prices will continue rising in the coming days for a lack of local stocks and tightening supply from regional imports.
Processors have run out of maize for milling and we are not getting stocks from Tanzania and Uganda, it is going to get tough for consumers with prices expected to increase further by the end of this week,” said Ken Nyaga, chairman of the United Grain Millers Association (UGMA) as quoted by a local newspaper.
Read also; Traders Begin to Import Maize to Address Shortages.