Flour Millers Face Crisis as Wheat Import Bill Soars

Kenya’s flour millers are grappling with soaring production costs after wheat import expenses jumped 32% in early 2024 due to global price spikes and a weaker shilling. With local wheat covering only 15% of national demand, millers rely heavily on imports from Russia and Ukraine. The Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) warned that bread prices could rise by up to 20%, threatening food security for low-income households. Some small mills in Nakuru and Kisumu have temporarily shut down. The government’s strategic grain reserve remains understocked, limiting buffer capacity. In response, the Ministry of Agriculture accelerated a Ksh5 billion wheat incentive program to boost domestic acreage in Uasin Gishu and Trans Nzoia. Experts urge long-term investment in irrigation and drought-resistant seeds to reduce import dependency and stabilize staple food prices amid climate volatility.