Reduce prices of Unga, President Uhuru Kenyatta tells millers

President Uhuru Kenyatta cautioned millers against exploiting consumers as the cost of processing maize flour had gone down. (Photo:PSCU)

Mombasa, Kenya: President Uhuru Kenyatta has urged millers to reduce the price of maize flour since the cost of power has gone down.

The President said the reduced cost of power should translate into cheaper goods and services for Kenyans.

President Kenyatta, who spoke during the Kenya Navy Golden Jubilee celebrations at the Kenya Navy headquarters in Mombasa, said failure by millers to lower the prices was exploitative.

The cost of electricity, which accounts for 60 percent of producing maize flour, has gone down by 60 percent after the addition of 280MW into the national grid recently.

The Government expects the reduced costs of power to spur development and reduce the cost of living for Kenyans.

President Kenyatta also directed the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB)  to start buying maize from farmers to save them from exploitation by brokers.

He said farmers were the foundations of the country’s economy and should benefit from their produce.

"We do not want to see farmers and consumers being exploited. There should be fair business," President Kenyatta said.

The President who was the Chief Guest at the 50th Anniversary Celebrations of the Kenya Navy commended the force for the critical role it has played in securing the country’s borders after the Kenya's military entered Somalia to fight off terrorists.

He also commended the Navy’s role in the fight against drug traffickers and other criminals using the sea in their illegal activities recalling the recent destruction of a ship carrying drugs which he witnessed.

“Building on its many successful interventions in connection with our territorial waters, our Navy has disrupted several drug trafficking attempts,” he said.

The President affirmed Government’s commitment to nurture partnerships in the Kenya Navy to ensure the service remains a professional and modern maritime of the 21st century.

He said the fruitful partnerships with counterpart services of friendly countries has enabled the Navy to benefit from exchanges in training, technical support and modernization of equipment.

“As a Nation, we are grateful for the benefits of these partnerships. We are immensely proud of the Navy’s achievements as a key regional player in the West Indian Ocean,” the President said.

He noted that Kenya Navy’s contribution to the maintenance of maritime security and aid to the nation during emergencies has been exemplary.

 “Whenever floods and famine have necessitated sea transport, the Service has consistently played a key role in relief support in many parts of the country, he said.

On regional peace, President Kenyatta said Kenya Navy as part of Kenya Defence Forces contributed immensely to securing the country’s, borders when instability in Somalia threatened national security.

Kenya Navy’s role in a complex amphibious operation led to the successful capture of Kismayu and contributed immensely to the elimination of piracy and other criminal activities endangering the Horn of Africa, he added.

“The elimination of piracy is a victory of global significance, and our region therefore directly feels the impact of our Navy,” the President said.

Defence Cabinet Secretary Raychelle Omamo commended the Kenya Navy to apply talent and technology to defend Kenyan waters, protecting the country’s maritime and fighting the trafficking of arms and drugs.

Chief of Defence Forces Julius Karangi praised Kenya Navy pioneers for laying a firm foundation on which the current service is built.

He described the service as the best in Africa saying, "it does not know what it is to lose a battle".

The President also awarded officers who have offered excellent service to the country.

Earlier, President Kenyatta laid wreaths of honour to KDF heroes, reviewed naval assets and displays including sail pasts, attack manoeuvers, fire-fighting displays and fly pasts by KAF aircrafts. He also took a national and 21-gun salute