Kenyans will from today have to dig a bit deeper into their pockets to buy maize floor as was the case a few weeks ago.

Yet again, there is a looming crisis on maize shortage in the country. Major outlets in the CBD have only a few premium brands on the shelves. These were not part of the subsidy, all retailing between 230-257 shillings.

To qualify for the subsidy program millers were required to present their company registration certificate, KRA certificate, Agriculture and Food License program, and county permits. Most small to medium-scale millers lacked hence being locked out of the program.

What most thought would be a relief has hardly lasted one month as the government's subsidy scheme comes to an abrupt end.

Francis Owino, Principal Secretary for Crop Development and Agricultural Research communicated the termination of the contract to Millers.

"This is to remind you that your contract for the sifted Maize flour Subsidy Program 2022 lapses on Thursday, August 18, 2022," Ministry of Agriculture.

The office of the principal secretary confirmed that the subsidy would not be extended.

Two weeks before the August 9 elections, Uhuru Kenyatta announced the subsidy plan of Inga from Sh 230 to 100 shillings for 2kg maize flour. The Ministry of Agriculture went ahead to post teams for market surveillance and enforcement of the recommended price.

The United Grain Millers Association had warned that the move by the government to suspend levies on imported maize was insignificant and inconsequential to the final amount consumers would part with.

Some of the millers have already raised concerns that the cost of Unga would return to normal reason being that there is still a scarcity of maize in the country. The buyers would continue buying from neighbouring countries hence pushing prices back to where they were before the government subsidy.

The Grain Belt Millers Association Chairman Kipngetich Mutai revealed that there is a possibility of maize prices rising even further.

"We are buying maize for 5600 to 5900 for a 90 kilo bag"

A memo had leaked on Monday asking directing the millers to stop supplying the commodity as the contract was set to expire on the 9th of August.

The Principal Secretary denounced the message terming it a miscommunication. He reassured Kenyans that the subsidy program was still in full operation.