Government must now come to the rescue of besieged Wanjiku

Bad weather has been blamed for current shortages in sugar and maize. It has been conveniently blamed for soaring food prices. Government functionaries, responding to public outcry, point out there was drought and that it occasioned poor yields last year, but there are pointers to other factors besides nature.

In October 2016 when the price of Unga was approaching Sh100 for a two kilogrammes packet, the Government gave instructions to the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) to release one million bags of maize from the strategic grain reserves to help in lowering prices, but seemingly, nothing happened since prices have continued on an upward spiral to hit Sh180 per two kilogramme packet of maize flour. Sugar is retailing at Sh190 per kilogramme.