Cheap Unga?: Kenyan Govt Subsidises Maize to Curb Rising Prices
- Unga prices in Kenya have been on the rise following a spike in maize prices to about KSh 5,400 per 90kg bag in May 2025
- TUKO.co.ke spot check across supermarkets indicated that a 2kg packet of unga retails at between KSh 160 and KSh 175, depending on the brand
- Agriculture Cabinet Secretary (CS) Mutahi Kagwe announced a subsidy for maize to curb the rising prices in the market
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Wycliffe Musalia has over six years of experience in financial, business, technology, climate, and health reporting, providing deep insights into Kenyan and global economic trends. He currently works as a business editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Kenyans could get access to cheap unga as the government subsidises maize.
Source: Facebook
Maize flour prices in the market hit a four-month high of about KSh 175 per 2kg packet.
What's the current price of unga?
TUKO.co.ke spot check on Monday, May 26, showed that a 2kg packet of unga retails at between KSh 160 and KSh 175.
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The price depends on the brand, with the most common including Soko Ugali retailing at KSh 173, Pembe (KSh 173), Jogoo (KSh 170), Dola (KSh 170) and Amaize at KSh 217.
The rise in unga prices resulted from a spike in maize prices, which hit a high of KSh 5,000 in May 2025.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, a 90kg bag of maize currently retails at around KSh 5,400.
How govt is subsidising unga prices
However, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary (CS) Mutahi Kagwe announced a subsidy programme that will cut maize prices in the market.
Kagwe said the government released the first batch of 200,000 bags of maize from the Strategic Grain Reserve to stabilise unga prices.
He said the maize will be sold to registered millers at a subsidised price of KSh 4,250 per 90kg bag.
"The government has released the first batch of 200,000 bags of maize from the National Strategic Grain Reserve (NSR) at the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB). The maize will be allocated to Miller Associations and individual millers in 90 Kg bags at a subsidised rate of KSh 4,250 per bag," said Kagwe in a press statement on Monday, May 26.
Source: UGC
What are the requirements for millers to buy maize?
The CS urged maize millers to indicate their milling capacity, present a certificate of incorporation, a tax compliance certificate, and a KEBS quality certificate to qualify for the subsidised maize.
He noted that NCPB started receiving payments for the maize on Thursday, May 22, with sales and collections expected to increase starting Monday, May 26.
"To deter stock hoarding, millers allocated the NSR maize are required to make an initial payment for 25% of their total allocation and provide proof of milling and distribution of flour before the full allocation is allowed. They must also submit a maize utilisation report before the payment for 75% is accepted," the CS statement continued in part.
Govt imports yellow maize
This came as the government allowed the importation of yellow maize to reduce the shortage.
Agriculture CS Mutahi Kagwe said about 5.5 million bags of yellow maize will be imported into the country for next one year.
Kagwe also revealed the state will waive 50% duty on imported maize for the same period.
Proofreading by Jackson Otukho, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
