The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Co-operatives has dismissed claims that the National Maize Flour Subsidy Program has ben suspended.
On Saturday, August 13, some major news publications reported that the government had called off the program due to insufficient funds.
In a memo that has since been flagged as fake, Agriculture CS Peter Munya notes that the Treasury doesn’t have funds to facilitate the program.
“Due to inadequate exchequer releases from the National Treasury, it has been decided that, the Maize Flour Subsidy Program be suspended with immediate effect,” the fake statement said.
Moments after the news went viral, the Ministry of Agriculture issued a statement dismissing the suspension of the subsidy program.
Kenyans,
Kindly note that the Maize Flour Subsidy Program is still on. pic.twitter.com/2bxhUntSC2
— CS Hon. Peter Munya (@PeterMunya) August 14, 2022
On Monday, July 18, the Ministry of Agriculture entered a deal with millers to lower the prices of maize flower as Kenyans continue to grapple with the high cost of living.
A 2 kilogram packet would go for KSh 100 starting next month.
At the same time, a 1 kilogram packet of flour will retail at KSh 52 and the 500 gram packet at KSh 30.
“The Ministry of Agriculture shall subsidize the price of maize flour being produced/sold by the miller for a period of four (4) weeks from the date of this contract,” read part of the agreement.
The move was celebrated by most Kenyans who had been badly affected by the high cost of maize flour prices.
“It affected me because I could not buy enough maize flour for my household. We were just eating for the sake but I was not getting satisfied
READ ALSO: Uhuru Directs 2kg Maize Flour Retail at KSh 100 with Immediate Effect
“I also had to eat other meals such as rice before eating ugali to lower the rate of intake,” a netizen stated.
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