Kenya is set to import up to 25 million bags of maize to address a domestic shortage, marking a significant shift after a season of reportedly high harvests.

• Kenya plans to allow private traders to import 25 million bags of maize.
• Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe announced the decision.
• The imports are necessary due to drought in key maize-growing regions like Uasin Gishu and Trans Nzoia, despite previous reports of a record harvest of approximately 71 million bags.

A recent poll by TIFA reveals that the high cost of living is the primary concern for Kenyans, impacting households across the nation.

• 62 percent of respondents identified the rising cost of living as the biggest challenge.
• The survey, conducted by TIFA, highlights increased prices in transport, fuel, food, and education.
• 81 percent of households in Nairobi are experiencing either rising living costs or constrained incomes, leaving little room for further price hikes.

Informal cross-border trade into Kenya, particularly for essential commodities, reached Sh573 million in the year to June 2025, driven by domestic shortages and strong demand.

• Rice, sugar, and milk accounted for over a quarter of these uncaptured imports.
• The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) conducted a survey revealing these figures, highlighting the role of informal trade in food security.
• Commodities like rice, sugar, and milk were imported informally to supplement local production deficits caused by factors like drought and production constraints.