Due to a shortage, maize prices have increased to a high of Sh6,100 for a 90-kilogram bag, placing additional strain on flour supplies and aggravating consumers already suffering from high living expenses. From Sh5,700, which was the cost for a comparable quantity sold around the end of last month, the price has increased.

Following this, millers raised the factory price of flour, with a bale selling for an average of Sh2,370 as opposed to Sh2,180 last week, in response to the rising price of maize, which makes up 80% of the overall cost of production.

“The price of maize has shot up significantly and we have had to adjust the cost of flour as well,” said Atin Aggarwal, chief executive at Trident Millers Limited.

According to Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi, the price of maize flour will reduce to Sh140 for a two-kilo package because of increased imports.

The government has abolished duties on maize imported from outside the East African region since February of this year, but just 150,000 tonnes have been imported.

The price of flour has risen this week, despite the Ministry of Agriculture predicting last week that it would decline due to 150,000 tonnes of maize imports from abroad.