NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul 21 – Commotions were witnessed in supermarkets and other retail outlets countrywide Thursday as Kenyans rushed to purchase Unga after prices were lowered to Sh100.
In the capital Nairobi, various supermarkets limited the number of purchases to a maximum of 2 or 4 packets, causing a commotion.
“We should be allowed to buy the number of packets we want. Why are they limiting the purchases,” said Tom Otieno, a shopper at Naivas supermarket on Moi Avenue.
Unga prices went down from an average of Sh210 following an announcement by President Uhuru Kenyatta who signed off a government subsidy for millers.
A spot-check by Capital FM in various outlets countrywide revealed that there was a shortage of the commodity.
“I don’t know what is happening because there is no Unga in the shelves,” said Marion Njeri, who spent one hour waiting for the commodity, “the queues are too long and Unga is getting finished as soon as bales are opened.”
At the Naivas Moi Avenue branch, attendants were specifically assigned to handle Unga shoppers in measures to limit purchases.
“We started by issuing Jogoo, Pembe maizemeal. We are now issuing the Soko flour after which we will move to Ndovu. The demand is very high, we have not rested,” stated one of the store assistants.
Although most Kenyans welcomed the move to reduce Unga prices, some were of the opinion that the period should be extended beyond the one month period.
“This reduction has offered us some relief but we don’t know how the prices will be after the one month, they might even be more,” said Richard Muthoka a shopper at Quickmart Tom Mboya street.
While announcing new stimulus measures to cushion Kenyans against the high cost of living on Wednesday, President Uhuru Kenyatta appealed to millers not to hoard maize flour saying this will affect Kenyans in a negative way.
The President observed that there is a pattern of high maize flour costs in the lead-up to the elections, citing 2013, and 2017 elections periods.
The President called on millers to exercise corresponding social responsibility for the Kenyan people, ethical business practices.
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Some supermarkets for instance Naivas Moi Avenue opted to assign some of their staff to specifically deal with issuing unga packets to shoppers, as part of measures to limit the number of packets to be picked as well as manage commotion.
The assistants were also assuring customers that there is sufficient stock and that there is no need to cause a commotion.
“We started by issuing Jogoo, Pembe. After they were finished we are now issuing the Soko flour after which we will move to Ndovu. The demand is very high, we have not rested,” stated one of the store assistants.
“I had come to shop for other items but after seeing the subsidized unga I have decided to just get some,” Mama Ochieng said.
Although most Kenyans welcomed the move to reduce the unga prices, some were of the opinion that the period should be extended beyond the one-month period, saying it’s not enough.
“This reduction has offered us some relief but we don’t know how the prices will be after the one month, they might even be more,” said Richard Muthoka a shopper at Quickmart Tom Mboya street.
While announcing new stimulus measures to cushion Kenyans against the high cost of living on Wednesday, President Uhuru Kenyatta appealed to the millers not to hoard maize flour saying this will affect Kenyans in a negative way.
The President observed that there is a pattern of high maize flour costs in the lead-up to the elections, citing 2013, and 2017 elections periods.
The President called on millers to exercise corresponding social responsibility for the Kenyan people, ethical business practices.
