Prices of both maize and wheat flour are now 110 bob per 2kg packet. Traditionally maize flour has always been cheaper than wheat flour. So what is happening? Are we overpaying for maize flour, or is it that wheat has become more abundant and cheaper?

I am looking at the bigger picture, which is the maize sector. Especially now that the new Eldoret Fertiliser factory is to be opened soon, one that is supposed to bring the cost of fertilizer and maize production down.

I was shocked to read yesterday that the Ksh 103B factory will not be manufacturing fertilizer but rather will be a fertilizer blending plant. Meaning that we will be still be importing pure N or P fertilizers and blending them at the plant to make the final product. This is contrary to what we have always been told, that we will no longer have to import fertilizers and will be saving billions in forex. Someone from the ministry was also saying that the factory will not lead to cheaper fertilizer "because the raw materials will have to be imported".

Kenya has finally become a middle income economy.
Now we all know the middleclass eat chapos and such like "clean" carbs like spaghetti, noddles etal.

With more consumers of Unga ngano, manufacturers are able to break even easily due to economy of scale hence the lower Unga ngano prices you are seeing.

Also, the traditional maize baskets in the country have largely shunned maize farming due to dwindling returns hence scarcity of maize floor in the market which has eventually led to the spike in prices.

Avoid paying taxes on unga, go to the local miller and buy at 85 Bob, kwani karatasi ina maana gani? Book covers ?

I have seen this value quoted by media. Is it actually Kes 103B?. I don't buy that cost. I have not seen it but would expect it to be Kes. 1.03B.

Red means size ya Ugali!

Meanwhile..

I have never seen yellow cob planted and sold in Kenya. If they do, its basically for animal feed. If Americans in Kenya want yellow cob, nakumatt is providing it for them, any Kenyan should be asking how they can grow and sell at the same price.

By the way a lot of sweet corn is grown for export hapo Naivasha. It looks similar to one above.

The map is very clear. The scale 1-10 is a ranking of countries depending on their citizens daily intake of maize. Those in the red states derive most of their daily calories from maize, thus ranked as no 1.