Maize Flour Shortage As Buyers Rush To Restock Before Elections

Days after President Uhuru Kenyatta issued a decree cutting prices, residents of Nairobi’s Eastlands neighborhood are facing a severe shortage of cooking flour.

Since July 21, when Uhuru reduced the cost of unga from Ksh250 to Ksh100, a lot of locals have flocked to Eastlands’ supermarkets in an effort to stock up on food as August 9 draws closer.

Many traders have run out of stock as a result of the rapid rush for stock, which has dramatically raised prices above the suggested Ksh100.

On the evening of Saturday, July 30, at Naivas Supermarket in the Komarock region, there was no evidence of unga.

“I came here with my husband to do some shopping, but I am disappointed there is no unga, all of it has been bought,” said a disappointed Winnie Akinyi.

“I am letting my husband to take the other shopping back to the house as I walk around the estate to try and find unga,” she added.
With no indication of unga in their trays, most customers had a dejected expression as they stood in line to pay for their purchases.

One of the grocery employees claims that since the retailer was the first supplier to lower pricing, customers have been flooding in to get their hands on the valuable item.

For her part, Millicent Kamau had to wait in line for two packets of unga for close to 30 minutes somewhere in Kayole.

She said: “I came to buy six packets of unga, because I needed to stock as we get into elections, but the shopkeeper could only allow me two packets.”

Ms. Kamau said she bought a 2-kg packet of maize flour at Ksh 130, yet another place was selling a packet at Ksh 118.

“There is serious demand, and many people are looking to buy, yet there seems to be a shortage,” said Ms. Kamau noting that she bought a brand of unga she has never seen in the market.

“It’s possible people are buying maize floor from major brands, repackaging and selling as a different brand and at a much higher price,” alleged Ms. Kamau.

According to reports, the scenario is the same in other Nairobi areas.

As the unga shortage worsens, some families have been forced to buy maize, which they subsequently grind at posho mills.