Catholic Information Service for Africa (Nairobi)
2 December 2008
Nairobi — Kenyans can now sigh with relief after the government stepped in and negotiated with grain millers to reduce the cost of maize flour, the country's staple food.
For the past few months, the cost of maize flour has increased to a historic high of Sh. 120 per 2 kg packet. The rise is attributed to inflation and bad harvests owing to low rains and the post-election violence in which thousands of people were displaced from the nation's high productivity areas.
There have also been claims that unscrupulous businessmen, some of them Members of Parliament, occasioned an artificial shortage of maize. The government said it had only 1.2 million bags of maize in its strategic reserves.
Last week, the Cabinet resolved to import 5 million more bags of maize. And after negotiations between the Agriculture Minster William Ruto and the millers, it was resolved that a new brand of maize flour be packaged to sell at Sh26 per kilo to target the poor.
Other brands targeting middle income groups will sell at Sh 72 per 2 kg packet down from an average of Sh 98. The new prices will take effect from next week.
Reacting to the government move, Fr Wilybard Lagho, vicar general of the Catholic Archdiocese of Mombasa, welcomed the decision as a short-term measure, but pointed out to CISA that the causes of the crisis, including poor economic planning, should be addressed. Food insecurity is a predictable crisis in Kenya, he added.
In Eldoret, James Kimisoi, the Catholic Justice and Peace coordinator, echoed Fr Lagho's sentiments, but added that the government's emergency measure of introducing two sets of prices is unfair.
David Ochola, Deputy Headmaster at St John informal school in Korogocho in Nairobi told CISA that people in the slum were confused about the two prices the government announced.
"The government is also not specific about whether the prices that will be lowered are for the slum people or the rural areas so we are waiting to see what will happen next week," Ochola added.
While welcoming the new measure, the country's leading daily newspaper the Nation, pointed out that the main problems that the government should solve include lack of proper planning, transparency and proper management of the food situation.
"As Kenyans, we commend the government for intervening and ensuring availability of stocks, but we encourage them to seek long-term solutions, as band-aids won't do."
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