The government has reassured Kenyans that the price of maize flour (Unga) will remain stable despite recent market fluctuations and supply concerns.

During a press briefing on Monday, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe confirmed that the Ministry of Agriculture has sufficient strategic grain reserves to cushion consumers from potential price spikes.

“There should be no panic about the prices of unga going up. We will ensure that prices remain stable, as we have adequate reserves in place,” said Kagwe.

In early April, Kagwe announced plans to import 5.5 million bags of yellow maize to reduce pressure on white maize, which has seen a sharp price increase of up to 26.47 percent since December 2024. 

The government will offer a 50 percent duty waiver on these imports for a period of at least one year.

Millers, meanwhile, have cited reduced domestic maize supplies as the main driver of the recent price hikes, forcing them to import grain from neighboring countries such as Tanzania. 

They have also raised concerns over stiff competition for maize between millers and animal feed manufacturers.

According to data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), the average retail price of a two-kilogram packet of fortified maize flour rose to Sh169.41 in April 2025, up from Sh165.05 in March—representing a 2.64 percent increase.