An acute maize shortage is looming after Agriculture Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri declined to authorise importation of the staple, saying the decision will require the approval of a full Cabinet, yet there is just one month of stocks available for consumption.
In an interview, Mr Kiunjuri said duty-free imports have proved controversial in recent years after profiteering cartels hijacked the process, an outcome he is keen to avoid by involving the Cabinet in making the critical decision of how much maize should be bought and where to buy it from.
