Retailers in Nanyuki have rationed the selling of subsidized maize flour to two packets per buyer to ensure many people access it and are cushioned against the high prices.
KNA can report that several flour millers in Nanyuki town had stocked the highly sought after commodity, however, some had their shelves empty due to the Sh100 per 2kg packet flour demand.
For instance, Food Security Millers witnessed huge crowds on Wednesday, which forced the outlet to sell only two packets of maize flour to each buyer.
“We are selling only two packets of maize flour after realizing some buyers are taking the advantage of the situation of buying in large quantities to resell at a high price,” said Ms. Eddah Waweru, Food Security Miller’s proprietor.
She said they had also not yet received any payment for the subsidized maize flour programme, which she noted, created uncertainty among the millers whether to continue selling at Sh100 or not.
A spot check by KNA, showed Quickmart Supermarket, which had stocked Cosmo maize flour, had run out of stock by Thursday morning, a similar situation to other retailers in Nanyuki town. Other millers selling the subsidised flour in Nanyuki were Daiga and Naicia.
Government had over the weekend, sent a stern warning to unscrupulous traders against hoarding the subsidised maize flour.
The State had released Sh4 billion to support the maize flour subsidy programme which is expected to run for a period of four weeks and with hopes that the commodity prices will stabilize.
State Department for Crops development and Agriculture Principal Secretary Francis Owino also announced suspension of Railway Development Levy and Import Declaration Fee on imported maize.
By Muturi Mwangi
