Middlemen from Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania are coming to Trans Nzoia and other counties in search of affordable maize.
This is happening because the price of maize, a staple food in Kenya, has been rising in supermarkets. President William Ruto also plans to import yellow maize.
Farmers from Trans Nzoia, which had a good harvest this season, are facing a dilemma. They are unsure whether to sell their maize to Kenyan middlemen or those from neighboring countries.
Rodgers Barasa, a farmer, said, “Most of the buyers here are Ugandans and Tanzanians because they say maize is scarce in Uganda.”
The farmers are selling a 90-kilogram sack of maize for Ksh3,500, which is less than the Ksh6,500 they expected.
Andrew Sebei added, “Maize prices are currently at their worst. Middlemen have been buying it for between Ksh3,000 and Ksh3,500.”
The farmers believe the government should have set a price range, even if it’s between Ksh4,000 and Ksh5,000, due to the challenging economic conditions.
This situation arises as Uganda faces a shortage of maize, leading to an export ban.
In early September, Kenya benefited when Uganda, led by President Yoweri Museveni, imposed a ban on maize exports. Millers and farmers welcomed this decision, as it helps them keep husks for making animal feed. Uganda is projected to produce only 2.5 million tonnes of maize in 2023.
Tanzania has also halted maize exports to Kenya and other countries, indicating challenges in President Samia Suluhu’s administration.
In the meantime, Kenyan households are feeling the strain of higher maize prices, with some brands selling for as much as Ksh200 for a 2kg packet.
President William Ruto has announced plans to import duty-free yellow maize to alleviate the high cost of living, despite a bumper harvest. He did not specify the timelines but confirmed that funds for the project are already allocated in the Treasury. He also mentioned efforts to provide affordable farming inputs such as fertilizer and seeds to boost production.
