The government’s Sh6.5 billion maize subsidy programme that would see the now golden commodity retail at Sh90 per two-kilogramme packet has proved to be more of an enigma than a benediction to Kenyans.
Unscrupulous traders have taken advantage of looming maize shortage (heightened by army worm infestation) with glaring impunity despite warning of legal repercussions if one messes with flour prices.
Traders are hoarding the cheap flour in a bid to rake in fortunes. Elsewhere, there are cases of repackaging the flour to scrap the GOK look. Where the subsidised unga is available, a one-kilogramme packet is going for Sh60.
There is no maize flour in most shop shelves in areas away from the country’s capital. Deliberately or otherwise, ‘famine-brokers’ are making a killing out of this national crisis.
The pedigree of lifting of duty from maize coming to Kenya is therefore questionable. We begin to think of it as a political tool that does not stand the test of practicality.
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In a script most likely borrowed from Kanu’s antique method during election periods, it is a move to manipulate voters. That maize took a record three days from Mexico to Kenya and now it is taking forever to get to the shops - a mystery to many Kenyans.
Wananchi are crying like the biblical Israelites during the Bible times Exodus. Disgruntled, Kenyans wish they had their Sh150 kilogramme per packet unga provided its availability is unswerving. It is disappointing to walk into more than three supermarkets only to find that such a staple food is missing.
Something must be done because about this because the situation is man-made; created and maintained by incompetence, corruption and discordant politics. The State has a responsibility to protect the normally hapless wananchi from unscrupulous moves from greedy traders. Kevin Omolo, Maseno
