The cost of living is rapidly escalating for millions of Kenyans as the price of maize, the nation's staple food, surges to new levels.
Farmers in poultry are also scrambling for the product for feeds.
Both the
Poultry Breeders Association of Kenya (PBAK) and the Association of Kenya Feed
Manufacturers (AKAFEMA) have sounded an alarm.
This
follows a dramatic 45 per cent increase in maize prices since January, reaching
Sh4,800 per bag, with projections indicating a climb to Sh5,500 by April.
The
Poultry Breeders Association of Kenya, which represents over 90 per cent of
day-old chick producers and 80 per cent of the formal processed chicken market,
has called on Agriculture and Livestock
CS Mutahi Kagwe to intervene.
AKAFEMA
has pegged the shortage on multiple factors, including adverse weather
conditions, reduced harvests, and disruptions in regional supply chains.
"The
current trajectory of maize prices is deeply concerning and threatens the food
security of millions of Kenyans," the association's chairman, Karuri,
said.
"We are already witnessing a sharp
increase in the cost of unga, and if this trend continues unchecked, ugali, a
fundamental part of our daily diet, will become increasingly unaffordable for a
large segment of the population as demand for animal feeds also remains
high."
For a
country where maize flour (unga) is the foundation of the daily meal, ugali,
this spike threatens basic food security and household budgets.
A scan through
major retail supermarkets indicates that the prices of a 2kg packet of maize flour
oscillate between Sh145 to Sh160 for an average grade one product.
This is a departure from December to early January
prices, which ranged from Sh100 to Sh120.
The fears stem from a confirmed maize shortage, impacting not only consumers facing a
potential increase in unga prices, but also the vital animal feed sector.
Poultry
farmers have already been hard-hit, with rising feed costs inevitably leading
to higher prices for chicken and eggs, sector players have said.
AKAFEMA
chairman Joseph Karuri has warned that ugali, a cornerstone of Kenyan diets,
risks becoming unaffordable for many as farmers also scramble for maize for
feed.
Both
associations have sent an urgent appeal to the government for immediate
intervention, primarily advocating for a waiver of import duties on maize to
stabilise prices and ensure availability.
Failure to
act swiftly risks plunging more Kenyans into food insecurity and further destabilising
the economy, they said.
Kenyans
are facing an alarming rise in the cost of living, driven primarily by the
sharp increase in maize prices, which could wipe out lower inflation gains.
Beyond the direct impact on household food budgets, the crisis is also threatening the sustainability of Kenya’s livestock sector.
With feed
costs soaring, poultry and livestock farmers are facing severe financial
strain, leading to increased meat, poultry and dairy prices.
This, in turn, exacerbates the economic challenges
for Kenyan families.
"Waiving
taxes on imported maize will provide the much-needed relief to consumers by
stabilising and potentially reducing the price of unga and other maize-based
products," Karuri said.
"Furthermore, it will ensure that animal
feed manufacturers have access to affordable raw materials, preventing further
price hikes in the livestock sector and safeguarding farmers’
livelihoods," he added in a statement on Tuesday evening.
PBAK and
AKAFEMA stressed that this temporary measure is crucial in preventing a
full-blown food crisis.
The
associations have called for a dialogue with relevant government bodies to
discuss the available options, including the proposed measures and explore
long-term solutions for sustainable food security in Kenya.
"The
time for action is now. Without immediate intervention, millions of Kenyans
will face worsening food insecurity, businesses will struggle, and the economy
will continue to suffer. The government must act swiftly to protect the nation
from the devastating consequences of an unchecked maize crisis," they said
in a joint statement.
