Govt on the Spot Over Ksh4 Billion Maize Subsidy Scandal
The money was used to pay maize flour millers, but was not appropriated during the finalisation of Supplementary Estimates 1 and 2, resulting in a budget overshoot...
✨ Key Highlights
The Kenyan government is under scrutiny for spending Ksh4 billion on a maize flour subsidy program in FY 2022/23 without parliamentary approval, an action raising concerns about the misuse of public funds.
- Ksh4 billion was spent from the recurrent budget for the State Department for Crops Development to pay maize flour millers.
- The spending resulted in an over-expenditure and was not appropriated during the finalization of Supplementary Estimates 1 and 2.
- This revelation comes from a report on Kenya’s Agriculture, Rural and Urban Development sector within the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (2026/27–2028/29).
- The subsidy was initially scrapped by President William Ruto after being implemented by his predecessor, Uhuru Kenyatta, who launched a Ksh6.5 billion subsidy in May 2017.
- Looking ahead, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe announced a projected historic maize harvest of 70 million bags in 2025, supported by the Government’s Fertiliser Subsidy Programme worth Ksh53.25 billion.
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Government Scrutinized Over Ksh4B Maize Subsidy and Withholding County Funds - November 2025
The Kenyan government is under scrutiny for spending Ksh4 billion on a maize flour subsidy program in FY 2022/23 without parliamentary approval, an action raising concerns about the misuse of public funds. In addition, former Chief Justice David Maraga strongly criticized President William Ruto's economic management, accusing him of escalating the national debt without tangible benefits for Kenyans. Mumias East MP Peter Salasya also launched an attack on President Ruto, accusing him of paralyzing county governments by withholding funds. Salasya claims the government's rollout of the Electronic Government Procurement (EGP) system has halted essential services.
