CS Munya Halts Importation of Maize From Uganda, Tanzania

The government has, with immediate effect, stopped the importation of maize from neighbouring Uganda and Tanzania amidst safety concerns.

The Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) in a letter dated Friday, March 5 stated that maize from the two countries contained high levels of mycotoxins "that are consistently beyond safety limits of 10 parts be billion (ppb)."

“We wish to bring to your attention that AFA has stopped any further imports of maize into Kenya with immediate effect. The republic of Kenya is however committed to facilitating safe trade with her trading partners and look forward to working closely with all stakeholders to address the concern,” noted AFA acting director-general Kello Harsana.

The letter was copied to Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya and added that the authority has been enhancing surveillance on the safety of food imports into the country.

Mycotoxins, particularly aflatoxins and fumonisins are known to be carcinogenic, meaning they have the potential to cause cancer.

Harsana added that over the years, a number of acute and chronic aflatoxin-related illness cases have been recorded in Kenya including deaths.

Millers in Kenya have thus refrained from buying imported maize from neigbouring countries due to high levels of aflatoxin. They instead opt to to buy maize from farmers who are currently selling a 90 kg bag of maize at an average of Ksh2,700.

The price was raised from Ksh2,500 per 90 kg unit on January 19, 2021 after the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) failed to get farmers to sell their produce three weeks after opening their depots.

"NCPB has reviewed its maize purchases price upwards for a 90Kg bag to Ksh2,700 from Ksh2,500. We urge all farmers with maize that meet the required standards to deliver their grain," the statement by NCPB read at the time.

The January 2021 food and nutrition security report detailed that millers have so far imported 300,000 (90kg) bags of maize from the region.