Kenya Weighs 3 Million-Tonne Maize Import Plan as Production Falls to Seven-Year Low

The Government is considering a request to allow duty-free importation of three million tonnes of white maize as Kenya faces a sharp decline in domestic production and growing pressure on maize flour prices.

Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said the proposal by the Cereal Millers Association (CMA) is being assessed as the country prepares for tighter maize supplies. The association wants the duty-free import window to remain open for nine months to give millers enough time to secure supplies, financing and shipping arrangements.

CMA Chief Executive Officer Paloma Fernandes said Kenya is experiencing its steepest maize production decline in years, with only six major producing counties expected to deliver more than one million bags during the current season.

Fernandes said the production situation requires early government intervention to prevent shortages from pushing up the price of unga. The association is also seeking flexibility to source non-GMO white maize from both regional and international markets.

Kagwe said the Government could not afford to delay preparations for the expected supply gap. He supported consideration of a longer importation window, arguing that millers need sufficient time to secure grain before domestic stocks become critically low.

Zambia and Tanzania have emerged as potential sources of maize for Kenya. Kenya’s High Commissioner to Zambia, Lilian Tomitom, said Zambia has maize available and that Kenyan traders operating in Zambia and Malawi could help facilitate supplies.

However, transportation costs remain a major challenge for maize imported from Zambia. Kagwe called for discussions with the Zambian Government to explore ways of reducing the source price and making the grain more competitive in the Kenyan market.

The CMA has also cautioned against excessive reliance on Tanzania because the country can restrict maize exports when its own domestic stocks come under pressure. Such restrictions could affect both direct supplies from Tanzania and maize transported from Zambia through Tanzanian routes.

Fernandes therefore urged the Government to allow millers to diversify their sourcing options and access alternative international markets if regional supplies become unreliable.

Alongside the proposed white maize imports, the Government is considering gazetting 360,000 tonnes of yellow maize specifically for animal-feed manufacturing. The measure is intended to encourage feed manufacturers to use yellow maize instead of competing for white maize used primarily for human consumption.

Kagwe said separating the two markets could ease pressure on food-grade maize and increase the quantity available for milling into unga.

The Government has, however, warned that increased imports must meet Kenya’s food safety requirements. Kagwe said all imported maize would be subjected to sanitary and phytosanitary controls, particularly tests for moisture and aflatoxin contamination.

He called for faster laboratory testing, saying maize quality checks should ideally produce results within about 10 minutes rather than taking several hours or, in some cases, days.

The Cabinet Secretary also called for streamlined border procedures to reduce clearance delays that can keep imported grain in transit for three to five days. Such delays increase transport, storage and financing costs, which eventually affect the price paid by consumers.

The Government is also working to strengthen national grain reserves. The National Cereals and Produce Board has indicated that storage capacity equivalent to about two million 90-kilogramme bags is currently available.

The proposed measures come as Kenya seeks to balance immediate maize supply needs with consumer affordability and protection of local farmers. The Government’s decision on the three-million-tonne white maize request will determine how quickly millers can secure additional supplies and could have a direct bearing on unga prices in the coming months.