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Currently, the government is keeping a close eye to
the prices of common commodities such as wheat flour, milk, and bread. This is
aimed at ensuring the prices do not increase beyond the common mwananchi’s
purchasing power.
“The
government is monitoring the current food price increases and will intervene if
they go beyond the reach of ordinary Kenyans” said Peter Munya, the CS of
Agriculture. While the price of maize is expected to increase in the coming
days, the CS acknowledged that there’s need to strike a balance between the
consumer’s interests and the producer.
“We’re predicting prices
to go up depending on availability and we shall continue monitoring the
situation and if need be come up with the best intervention,” the CS said.
In his statement, the CS said the biggest challenge lies in maintaining favorable
prices for both parties. Whereas farmers expect good prices to sustain their livelihoods,
consumers, too, want prices that are easily affordable.
According to the CS, the
prices of maize flour have remained constant at 100Kshs for a two-kilogram
packet compared to the previous year where the prices were at 120Kshs for the
same amount. To avoid prices going any higher, the government has been using
Strategic Food Reserve (SFR) stocks as a way of stemming the high of maize
flour by selling it to millers at an affordable price.
Due to the pandemic, the
government said it would resort to price control measures to tame traders who
take advantage of Covid-19 crises by exploiting Kenyans.