Drought Drives Up Kenya Food Prices, Government Plans Maize Imports

Kenya is facing rising food prices due to drought, which has affected crop production in key areas. According to the AGRA July Food Security Monitor, maize prices increased by 3.3% in July, while bean prices rose between 2.4 and 2.9%. Rice prices also edged up by 0.3%, but wheat prices fell by 1.5% due to improved import availability and harvest supplies.

The government has made arrangements for the imports of 25 million 90-kilogramme bags of maize to bridge an anticipated production deficit. Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe assured Kenyans that measures were in place to prevent a food shortage, stating 'We will import maize. We have already made arrangements for that. We will manage the country. The country is not going to go hungry.'

The drought has destroyed an estimated 75% of the expected maize harvest in Baringo County, with losses reaching up to 80% in some lowland areas. This situation is expected to further strain national grain supplies.