Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Sen. Mutahi Kagwe is considering a request by the Cereal Millers Association (CMA) for duty-free importation of three million metric tonnes (MT) of white maize as Kenya faces a sharp decline in local production.
CMA says the production drop could put pressure on maize supplies and push up the price of unga. The association wants the duty-free import window kept open for nine months to give millers adequate time to secure contracts, financing and shipping arrangements.
CMA CEO Paloma Fernandes said Kenya is experiencing its steepest maize production decline in years, with only six major producing counties expected to produce more than one million bags this season.
“We cannot afford not to have maize,” Kagwe said, backing early action to secure adequate supplies.
Zambia and Tanzania have been identified as potential regional sources. Kenya’s High Commissioner to Zambia, Lilian Tomitom, said Zambia has sufficient maize and Kenyan traders in Zambia and Malawi can facilitate supplies.
Kagwe also called for negotiations with Zambia to reduce source prices and address high transport costs.
Meanwhile, the Government is considering gazetting 360,000MT of yellow maize for animal-feed manufacturers. The move would reduce feed manufacturers’ reliance on white maize, freeing more food-grade maize for human consumption.
Kagwe stressed that imported maize must meet Kenya’s sanitary and phytosanitary standards, particularly moisture and aflatoxin requirements.
He also called for faster laboratory testing and streamlined border clearance to reduce delays and costs. NCPB currently has storage capacity equivalent to about two million 90kg bags.
