The Kenyan government has extended Sh90-a-packet subsidy on maize flour to the end of next month, after it agreed to supply more grains to millers across the country.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Willy Bett said the government has decided to extend the subsidy program that was supposed to end in October. He said more than 1.7 million bags of subsidized maize will be availed to millers.
“We’ve agreed that the subsidy programme will officially come to an end on December 31,” said Mr Bett.
The minister said the government decided to extend the subsidy after realizing that prices of maize flour would have soared if the government terminated the program.
“By now we should be at the peak of purchasing maize from farmers but the ongoing rains have affected the purchase of the produce from growers,” he said.
The subsidy was introduced in May this year after prices of the essential commodity hit over Sh200 in some parts of the country as a result of maize shortage.
The high prices were met by public outcry forcing the government to import maize and introduce the subsidy program in partnership with millers to reduce the high cost.
