Nairobi — Opposition leader Raila Odinga has urged the Kenya Kwanza government to lower the price of Unga to Sh100 and not the planned Sh150 for its effect to be felt.

He said the announcement by President William Ruto last week that Unga will start retailing at Sh150 from this week, is still higher at a time Kenyans are facing harsh economic times.

"We are saying that the cost of living remains high and that is why we are saying that the price of Unga must go down to Sh100 and not Sh150," he told roadside crowds on Sunday as he headed to Kamukunji for a public rally.

He was accompanied by other top Azimio leaders including Martha Karua who was his running mate in last year's election as well as Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka among others.

If the government fails to bring the cost of Unga down to Sh100, the leaders said they will mobilise Kenyans for street protests.

President Ruto said the cost of Unga will reduce following the arrival of maize shipment.

"I know we have a problem with the cost of living. We had agreed that we would sort out the issue of the price of unga. By the end of next week, the prices of unga will go down owing to the arrival of the imported unga," the president said.

Azimio has indicated that lowering the prices of unga is top on their agenda in the bipartisan talks that are set to kick off this week.

The High Court last week suspended the move by Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi to import maize from Zambia following a suit by the Farmers Party of Kenya.

According to the petition, the decision to contract Zambian farmers to carry out large scale cultivation of maize for export to Kenya, is irrational and in gross violation of the Kenyan Constitution.