The Unga crisis in Kenya seems far from over 10 days after the government and Cereal millers signed a deal to lower the prices.
The deal directed that the price of maize flour be reduced to Ksh.100 shillings from over 200 shillings for a 2-kilogram packet.
According to monitoring carried out by Citizen TV, shelves at most retail stores have remained empty. While the few stores with the stock sold them at over 200 shillings.
“Ile nimepata ya bei kidogo ni 130 hiyo walikuwa wanasema ni ya mia sasa wanatuuzia 130 na pia hiyo kupata ni ngumu, mara ya mwisho kupata ilikuwa last week ya mwisho nilinunua juzi na ilikuwa 205,” Juliana Mutangale, a resident of Kasarani said on Sunday.
Moreover, the retailers attribute the shortage to negligence by millers to supply the stocks as directed.
The Unga shortage in stores situation is replicated across the country, with citizens complaining about the lack of change in prices as the government directed.
“Tunatembea kwa maduka tukienda mbali tukitafuta hiyo unga ya mia hatupati tunaomba serikali mtuelekeza mahali unga iko tukule ugali,” a resident of Bungoma said.
ADVERT
“Serikali itie maanani iongee na kila kampuni ambayo inauza unga ya mahindi iteremshe kila kampuni sio kampuni moja,” a resident of Makueni stated.
Nevertheless, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya acknowledged the crisis and warned of a crackdown on millers starting Monday, August 1.
“Tumeteremsha bei lakini kuna millers ambao wanaficha na tumeanza assessment kule wanaficha kesho mtaskia, kunao tunawalipa washukishe lakini wanaficha ficha na tunajua ni wapi kwaa hivyo tutawachukulia hatua ndio kwa kila duka bei iwe ni shilingi mia moja vile tumekubaliana kwa sababu serikali imesema hivyo,” Agriculture CS, Peter Munya reported.
Furthermore, the government announced that it had set aside 8 billion shillings for the Unga subsidy program.
Also Read: Government To Fast-Track Importation Of Cheap Maize
The subsidy program is expected to run for a period of four weeks to cushion Kenyans from the high food prices
