NAIROBI, Kenya – Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has announced a 50 per cent duty waiver on the importation of at least 5.5 million bags of yellow maize in a bid to ease pressure on local white maize stocks and stabilize unga prices.
Kagwe said the waiver will be formally gazetted and implemented over the next year through a vetted list of qualified animal feed millers with the capacity to handle large imports.
“The objective is to reduce pressure on local white maize stocks by shifting animal feed millers to yellow maize,” said Kagwe, adding that the imported maize will be non-GMO and strictly used for animal feed.
Currently, both white and yellow maize are being used in the production of animal feed, sparking growing competition between feed millers and maize millers for human consumption.
This has driven up the price of a 90kg bag of maize by at least 26 per cent.
Kagwe noted that by redirecting animal feed production to yellow maize, millers for human consumption would access white maize at fairer prices, ultimately cutting production costs and stabilizing maize flour prices for consumers.
To further ease pressure on maize prices, Kagwe said the government will also release stocks from the National Strategic Food Reserve to millers producing flour for human consumption.
“This intervention aims to cushion the mwananchi from the impact of soaring unga prices,” he said.
The CS also urged farmers to consider planting yellow maize to reduce Kenya’s reliance on imports, pointing to an annual domestic demand of over one million metric tonnes from the animal feed industry.
In October 2023, President William Ruto had directed that no permits would be issued for wheat or maize imports in a bid to protect local farmers — a policy Kagwe said would only shift if local supply proved insufficient.
“Our goal is not just to apply the law, but to respect the values and traditions that shape how communities resolve conflicts,” she said.
The open day served as an opportunity for the public to learn about the court’s services, offer feedback, and strengthen trust in the justice system.
