There Is No Maize All Over The World- Gachagua
Gachagua further believed that local farmers would have contributed to the lowering of unga prices...
Marvin Chege 
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua addressed the initial Cabinet approval of the importation of 10 million bags of maize into Kenya by February 2023.
Speaking during a joint interview with journalists at his private Karen residence on Sunday, March 12, Gachagua alleged a global shortage of maize that is preventing the government from importing cheap, duty-free maize into the country.
This, he added, has forced governments to compete fiercely to secure the little maize that is available.
Gachagua further believed that local farmers would have contributed to the lowering of unga prices had they realised that they were hoarding maize meant to feed Kenyans.
"The government had planned to import cheap maize by the end of February but the problem is that there is no maize all over the world. Governments are competing for the little maize that is available.
"If local farmers release the maize they have hoarded, the price of unga will come down to Ksh140," he revealed.
He further affirmed that cheap maize was not available anywhere in the world, his remarks coming amidst complaints from millers who said they had been locked out of trying to get import licenses after failing to agree with the government about the landing price for a 90-kilogram bag of maize.
The government had instructed the millers to commit to landing prices of Ksh4,200, but they did not agree to, complaining that it would be difficult to deliver at the price because of factors such as the Russia-Ukraine war that raised the cost and the scarcity of the product.
"The only available maize is from South Africa. We are in competition with Angola and Rwanda for the same maize. The maize in Brazil is too expensive to import because of the distance," he added.
On why the government was not importing maize directly, he said, "The Government does not want to import maize directly because we don't want corruption and scandals. We don't want people in Government to get into business.
"We advertised for millers and other people to apply, to get permits to import duty-free maize to bring down the cost of maize flour. Unfortunately, there is no maize almost everywhere in the world," he went on.
He however revealed that the Cabinet approved the importation of yellow maize for animal feed millers so that they stop competing for the white maize, adding that the government is not recommending yellow maize for human consumption, but it is good and nutritious.
Gachagua defended the decision by President Ruto's government to take off the subsidy on the cost of unga which came amidst the high prices of up to Ksh250 per 2kg packet.
"When we came in the cost of unga was between Ksh230-250, at that time there was a subsidy. We have worked very hard and now unga is between Ksh170-191.
"We decided as a government that subsidizing consumption is foolish because it is not sustainable," he went on, adding that the government sought to ensure predetermined landing prices to control the cost of maize flour, which has remained high at about Ksh200 for a 2kg packet.
Turning to Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga's calls for mass action in protest over the high cost of unga, Gachagua accused Raila of double standards as he did not call for mass action when the cost of unga was hitting Ksh230 during former President Uhuru Kenyatta's term.
"Raila Odinga never called for maandamano when unga was at Ksh230, why is he calling for maandamano when unga is at Ksh178? It’s doublespeak.
"He had an opportunity then as the advisor of former President Uhuru Kenyatta without having to go to maandamano, he was part of the government. He would have advised his handshake brother on how to bring the cost of unga down," he stated.
Former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, and former President Uhuru Kenyatta in their first joint rally in Luanda, Vihiga County on Saturday, February 11, 2023. /FACEBOOK.RAILA ODINGA
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