The government has not paid maize millers who participated in the 2022 maize subsidy program Kes 2.57 billion.

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta introduced a maize subsidy program In mid-2022 to cushion Kenyans from the high prices of maize flour.

The maize subsidy program came after the price of a 2-kilo bag of flour increased to Kes230 from Kes100 previously. Millers were to sell maize flour at a subsidy rate of Kes100.

Millers sold a total of Kes4.34 billion, of which the state paid Kes1.77 billion, leaving Kes2.57 billion in arrears.

The Cereal Millers Association (CMA) is now calling on the government to release the remaining amount.

“The CMA has been in communication and is still consulting with the Treasury and other relevant government ministries to address all matters related to the Maize Subsidy Program and is urging the Government to pay millers their outstanding amounts, to enable them to buy adequate quantities of raw material to ensure food security during these difficult climatic and economic times,” it says.

The state, according to CMA, entered into a deal with 129 Kenyan millers, 27 of whom were CMA members.