President William Ruto Friday promised a reduction in the price of maize flour starting next week after the arrival of imported maize.
Although he did not indicate the anticipated reduction margin in the prices, the Head of State said the move will come as a relief to the high cost of living affecting Kenyans.
“I am aware that we still have a problem with the cost of living. We agreed that we have to address the problem of maize flour. The most sustainable way of addressing the cost of maize flour is to address the cost of farm inputs. Already, I have registered 5 million farmers and offered them 6 million bags of affordable fertilisers," he said.
"They are busy at the farms so that we produce food and end the food shortage. But as we wait for the maize at the farms, I have made plans to import maize. The imported maize will be in the country by tomorrow. Starting next week the cost of maize of flour will start coming down."
The Head of State spoke at Mavoko in Machakos County where he commissioned a Sh 2.7 billion water project.
The promise of the reduction of the cost of maize flour came at a time the opposition is vowing to resume street protests against the government over the high cost of living and electoral injustice.
Azimio leader Raila Odinga wants the government to ensure that a two-kilogramme packet of maize flour retails at Sh100. However, President Ruto has told off the opposition chief over “unrealistic demands”.
Defuse political temperatures
He poured cold water over protests which he said cannot cure the high cost of living as he hoped that the latest move by his administration on taming the cost of living would defuse political temperatures building up in the country.
Once again, President Ruto urged the opposition to take advantage of the window of dialogue to address their grievances.
At the same time, the President sought to assure Kenyans that his administration will not discriminate against regions that did not vote for him in the last general election.
“I want to assure you that we shall unite the Kenyan nation so that we forge ahead as one. There shall be no discrimination of any kind. We are done with politics. There shall be no this or that political affiliation,” he told a charged roadside rally at Mavoko region.
Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti hosted President Ruto at the afternoon ceremony which was widely seen as a curtain raiser to the President's visit to the region on Sunday.
The head of State is expected to grace an interdenominational prayer session at Machakos Town.
“We are all brothers of one nation called Kenya. It does not matter whom you voted for in the last general election. The government of Kenya is your government and will serve you without discrimination on political grounds because the election is behind us. We should come together as citizens of Kenya and forge a united front,” President Ruto said.
He pledged to set up a Sh250 million agro-processing centre in the region.
He directed Sports Principal Secretary Jonathan Mueke to complete a stadium in Mavoko region within a year.
NOT TRUE....
Maize flour prices in Kenya’s leading supermarkets and local kiosks have not gone down, as suggested by several leaders.
A spot check by The Standard on Tuesday, April 18, revealed that unga prices are yet to reduce at several outlets.
This is despite a statement by Statehouse Spokesperson Hussein Mohammed on Monday that prices had come down to between Sh159 and Sh160.
“Unga prices have started going down just as President William Ruto had assured Kenyans over the weekend. Prices have dropped to Sh159 and Sh160, depending on the millers. When the president assumed office last year, a 2kg packet was retailing at approximately Sh230,” Mohammed tweeted.
At Quickmart Supermarket in Nairobi, a 2kg bag of Pembe maize flour is selling at Sh202, while Ndovu is selling at Sh189 and Ajab is going for Sh199. A 2kg packet of Soko maize meal is retailing at Sh213.
We have not had any changes in unga prices. A two-kilogram bag of Jogoo maize meal is still retailing at Sh205 and Jambo at Sh190,” Boniface Francis, a shopkeeper in Donholm confirmed to The Standard.
A 2kg packet of Jogoo maize meal costs Sh199 at Naivas Supermarket
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Fact Check
Not true! Unga prices have yet to reduce at several outlets
By Emmaculate Odhiambo | 4h ago
Maize flour is displayed at Naivas Supermarket along Kiambu Road. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]
Maize flour prices in Kenya’s leading supermarkets and local kiosks have not gone down, as suggested by several leaders.
A spot check by The Standard on Tuesday, April 18, revealed that unga prices are yet to reduce at several outlets.
This is despite a statement by Statehouse Spokesperson Hussein Mohammed on Monday that prices had come down to between Sh159 and Sh160.
“Unga prices have started going down just as President William Ruto had assured Kenyans over the weekend. Prices have dropped to Sh159 and Sh160, depending on the millers. When the president assumed office last year, a 2kg packet was retailing at approximately Sh230,” Mohammed tweeted.
At Quickmart Supermarket in Nairobi, a 2kg bag of Pembe maize flour is selling at Sh202, while Ndovu is selling at Sh189 and Ajab is going for Sh199. A 2kg packet of Soko maize meal is retailing at Sh213.
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“We have not had any changes in unga prices. A two-kilogram bag of Jogoo maize meal is still retailing at Sh205 and Jambo at Sh190,” Boniface Francis, a shopkeeper in Donholm confirmed to The Standard.
Current unga prices as seen at Quickmart Supermarket.
A 2kg packet of Jogoo maize meal costs Sh199 at Naivas Supermarket.
“Jogoo is still selling at Sh210 and Soko is going for Sh205. We are yet to see the reduced prices as announced by the president,” Naomi Atieno, a shopkeeper in Homabay town said.
The prices of maize flour vary from one location to the other.
Mohammed on Monday said that the Head of State had ensured that Kenyans enjoy lower prices for the commodity on select brands, following the Kenya Kwanza government’s plan to lower the cost of living which has been a major concern in the country.
His statement comes after President Ruto promised a reduction in the price of maize flour last week.
“By next week, you will begin seeing new prices in maize. The price of unga will go down. I am aware the cost of living has risen but on this, we had agreed that Kenyans must purchase maize flour at better prices,” Ruto said.
Whether unga prices will come down to the promised Sh159 nationwide remains to be seen.
