Government promises Kenyans cheap unga from next week
The Principal Secretary of the State Department for crop development in the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Mr Kello Harsama, has promised Kenyans cheaper maize flour from next week following a meeting with stakeholders.
As it is harvest season, the announcement comes in a timely moment, considering the abundance of produce that will be available. In his announcement yesterday, PS Harsama said the price of unga will be significantly lower.
“Today, held meeting with members of United Grain Millers Association. Noted that by next week, prices of maize and unga will reduce significantly,” Harsama said.
His announcement came on the day Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya Coalition commenced their three-day demonstrations against the government for failing to tackle the runaway high cost of living in the country.
Also read: Spot check: Price of unga yet to come down despite State House claims
On Monday, the opposition faulted the government for its skewed strategies of lowering the cost of living, such as providing jobs for specific sectors and not taking care of all Kenyans.
“They are missing the point. People eat food and people want food. People don’t eat government – legitimate or illegitimate. Give them food and they will leave the streets,” Opiyo Wandayi, the Minority Leader in the National Assembly, said.
In tackling the cost of unga – which is Kenya’s staple foodstuff – the government announced that various brands of 2kg packets of maize flour could be purchased at specific prices for between Sh150 and Sh200 at a time when the price of the commodity was Sh230 and above.
However, this cheap maize flour was limited and was only in stores for a few days before it completely disappeared from the shelves. The retail price soon got to as high as Sh270 for a 2kg.
Also read: ‘Cheap’ Unga brands hit supermarket shelves
However, these measures were not satisfactory to Azimio la Umoja, which demanded that the price of maize flour be reduced Sh100, the initial price the commodity was retailing at before inflation and hoarding were reported.
According to the opposition, millions of Kenyans live below the poverty line, and purchasing food should not cause them to decide whether to eat due to its steep cost.
It remains to be seen if the government will lower and maintain the price of unga.
Also read: Ruto’s ‘Sh150 to Sh200’ Unga now approaching the Sh250 mark