Why Kenya’s maize import plan is facing headwinds

A number of countries have rebuffed maize supply requests from Kenya, making it harder for East Africa’s biggest economy to secure the 10 million bags it needs to plug the shortage of the staple. Agriculture Ministry Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi told MPs the State has so far imported 1,305 tonnes of the grain and a substantial quantity of flour is expected into the country in the next 10 days. Mr Linturi told the National Assembly’s Agriculture committee that the country has also imported 43,173 million tonnes of rice and that the price of maize flour is expected to drop once the maize arrives in the country. “We are further ordering 500,000 metric tonnes of yellow maize and 200,000 metric tonnes of soya beans for livestock feed,” Mr Linturi told lawmakers. Read: Duty-free maize imports call attracts 250 traders “These are short-term interventions to address the maize deficit as we prepare for more imports in the near future.” Mr Linturi said the country is facing ...