Kenya has secured 1 million bags of Maize from Zambia to cushion Kenyans against drought.
This comes at a time 3.3 million Kenyans are facing acute food insecurity. This number is projected to go up to 3.6 million in the next four months.
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe while speaking during the 49th Session of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Governing Council in Italy said the initial 250,000 bags of 90 kilogrammes could be cleared to stabilize supply as the government continues monitoring the food security situation and protecting the local market.
Kagwe held bilateral talks with Zambia’s Agriculture Minister, Reuben Mtolo, who confirmed Zambia can release over 1million bags from its grain reserves if needed.
He noted that while Kenya may gazette duty-free imports if local stocks fail to replenish the Strategic Grain Reserve, maize from Zambia would not require gazettement under Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) trade arrangements.