The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
Food commodity prices in Kenya are climbing as drought disrupts crop production in key farming regions, raising concerns over grain availability and household food security, according to the AGRA July Food Security Monitor.
The report shows that maize prices rose by 3.3 percent in July, while bean prices climbed between 2.4 and 2.9 percent amid tightening domestic supplies. Rice prices also inched up by 0.3 percent. Wheat was the exception, with prices falling 1.5 percent thanks to improved import availability and stronger harvest supplies.
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According to the Ministry of Agriculture’s Kenya Agricultural Market Information System (KAMIS), a 90kg bag of dry maize is currently wholesaling between Sh2,200 and Sh4,500, while a bag of beans is going for between Sh5,000 and Sh5,600, depending on variety. A bag of finger millet (wimbi) is fetching about Sh11,700, and green grams (ndengu) are trading at around Sh7,000 per bag. Irish potatoes — particularly the Shangi variety — are averaging Sh4,600 per bag, though prices vary depending on sack size, which typically ranges between 50kg and 110kg.
These price increases come as prolonged dry conditions continue to take a toll on agricultural output. In Baringo County, drought has wiped out an estimated 75 percent of the expected maize harvest, with losses reaching as high as 80 percent in some lowland areas.
The situation is expected to place further strain on national grain supplies, prompting the government to plan the importation of 25 million 90-kilogramme bags of maize to address an anticipated production shortfall.
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said the government had already made arrangements for the imports, reassuring Kenyans that measures were in place to avert a food shortage. He explained that Kenya consumes roughly 75 million bags of maize annually, but reduced harvests across several food-producing regions are expected to create a shortfall of nearly 25 million bags — prompting government intervention through strategic imports to stabilize supplies and shield consumers from price volatility. He affirmed that maize imports had already been arranged and assured the public that the country would not go hungry.
A miller who requested anonymity warned that rising grain costs and tightening supplies could eventually drive up prices of processed foods if the situation persists. The miller noted that farmers are already reporting expectations of a poor harvest, which could limit the availability of locally produced maize and push up its price — potentially translating into higher maize flour prices in supermarkets. The miller urged the government to act swiftly on maize imports to cushion Kenyans from further price hikes, particularly given the strained purchasing power many households are already facing due to the high cost of living.
Kagwe said the planned maize imports would serve as an immediate buffer while the government implements longer-term measures to strengthen domestic production and reduce dependence on rain-fed agriculture. He noted that the government is expanding irrigation projects, including the Galana Kulalu scheme, to boost output and build resilience against drought. He added that the government also intends to work with the National Treasury to address tax-related and bureaucratic obstacles affecting farmers and agribusinesses.
The AGRA report cautions that Kenya’s food security outlook remains mixed through January 2027. Maize production in key growing regions of the North Rift and western Kenya is expected to stay significantly below average due to prolonged rainfall deficits, with losses projected at around 15 percent. While improved rainfall and better harvests could bring localized relief later in 2026, the report notes that overall recovery is likely to remain limited by below-average production and elevated prices.
