Migori faces subsidized maize flour shortage

Migori County continues to face a shortage of the government subsidized maize meal flour as a result of what they term as supermarkets and retailers in the region avoiding to stock the commodity because of its low profit margins.

A spot check by Ramogi Radio in the region revealed that most businesses opted not to stock the commodity after their shelves were emptied by residents who bought it in bulk after the government subsidized it to Ksh 90 per a 2kg packet.

Speaking to Ramogi Radio, a businessman who sought anonymity, said that traders’ preference is to stock other products with bigger profits.

“We are spending a lot of money to ferry the subsidized unga but selling it does not make economic sense to us,” said the businessman, adding that they are incurring losses as a result which explains their decision not to stock the unga.

Jesse Maikula, a customer, said that he has resorted to consuming other foods after he failed to find a single shop or supermarket stocking the subsidized unga in the town.

Maikula pointed out the importance of maize flour to Kenyan households adding that it is a staple food that Kenyans cannot go without.

“We are asking the Government to sort out this issue with the millers and make sure that the distribution of the flour is done evenly countrywide.”

Written by Wahome Gitonga