Agriculture CS Willy Bett says smaller mill owners will be incorporated by government to ensure maize reaches all parts of the country.
2.1 million bags of maize have been imported since KRA waived import duty on white maize, mainly from Mexico.
The CS said there was a possibility of extending the import window beyond July 31 depending on the weather.
The government has began the process of identifying posho mill owners across the country who will be allocated imported maize for milling, Agriculture CS Willy Bett said Friday.
The move is aimed at ensuring that subsidised maize flour is easily accessible in all parts of the country.
“There are some conditions that have been set and we will work with those who will qualify. We are aware that whenever there is a programme for government subsidy there are some business people who want to benefit but we will not allow this to happen,” he said.
He spoke at the Mombasa port when he received a vessel with 42,000 tonnes of white maize.
A man uses his posho mill at Imuliro Village in Ikolomani. FILE PHOTO | TONNY OMONDI | NMG
The Kenya Revenue Authority waived import duty on white maize in May and gave a July 31 deadline for the amnesty.
Since then, 2.1 million bags of maize have been brought into the country under the window, mainly from Mexico.
Since the imports stared flowing in, the maize has been distributed to large millers, but the CS said in order to reach all parts of the country the government had decided to incorporate posho mills.
