Gov’t Warns Maize Hoarders, Threatens Them With Duty-Free Imports
Mutahi Kagwe, the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development, has given maize hoarders a 30-day deadline to surrender their inventories to the market.
The CS, who spoke at Sagana NCPB in Kirinyaga county, cautioned that failing to comply will require the government to accept duty-free maize imports to keep maize flour prices stable.
He stated that the government’s first goal is to purchase corn from local farmers to replenish the National Strategic Food Reserve.
However, he emphasized that imports would be unavoidable if sufficient stockpiles were not provided within the specified deadline.
“We are buying maize at Sh4,000 per bag, and we have Sh1.7 billion ready for payments. If anyone tells you to wait, call me,” Kagwe said.
CS Mutahi Kagwe gives maize hoarders one month to release stocks or face duty-free imports
— The Standard Digital (@StandardKenya) January 26, 2026
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“As a country, we must stock our strategic reserves and be prepared for emergencies. Our first option is not to import, but to buy from our farmers.”
However, just 186,000 bags have been supplied thus far, a shortfall attributed to hoarding and speculative practices, particularly as drought conditions worsen in some areas of the country.
To reduce post-harvest losses and increase grain quality, Kagwe stated that the government is rationalising the deployment of over 60 mobile and stationary maize dryers across the country.
The dryers will be repurposed for cooperatives, large-scale farmers, self-help groups, and high-production zones, while those in low-yield areas will be removed and reassigned.
“When we talk about aflatoxin, we are dealing with a public health issue. Taking dryers to areas with little or no maize is a misuse of national resources,” he said.
Kagwe also lauded the fertiliser subsidy program, stating that corn production quadrupled following the release of 9.1 million bags of various fertilisers during the 2025 season.
This was made possible by favorable weather conditions in the North and South Rift, Eastern, and Central areas.
To address last-mile distribution challenges, the CS announced that county governments will now register agro-dealers, enabling farmers to access subsidised fertiliser closer to their farms.
The Ministry, in collaboration with the National Treasury, the World Bank, and commercial banks, is rolling out an instant payment system to ensure agro-dealers are paid immediately upon voucher redemption.
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“This will reduce transport costs for farmers and ensure fertiliser availability at the village level,” he said.
He added that investors, cooperatives, and farmers are being encouraged to increase rice farming, with assurances that NCPB can handle higher volumes and expand local milling.
On wheat, Kagwe revealed that Kenya produces only about 10 per cent of its requirements.
He stated that the government has put in place a policy framework to ensure that locally produced wheat is taken up before any imports are allowed.
Gov’t Warns Maize Hoarders, Threatens Them With Duty-Free Imports
