Packets of unga at a retail distributing shop. [PHOTO/citizentv.co.ke]
Businessmen found selling a kilogram of sifted unga for more than Sh47 will be arrested and charged in a court of law.
According to a Kenya Gazette Supplement No. 74 dated notice dated May 23, the Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich gave the warning saying the law will not be lenient to uncrupulous traders.
This comes after the government recently zero-rated maize imports and announced that the cost of maize flour had been reduced from a higher Sh152 per 2kg to Sh90.
However, Kenyans have complained that distributors are not reducing the till prices despite the government's subsidy.
The government will now slap those who break the policy a fine of Sh1Million or a jail sentence not exceeding 5 years, or both.
“To cushion farmers, we have entered into a subsidy agreement program that will see the millers buy a bag of maize for Sh2300 in order to retail at 90sh for 2kg packet and this should be followed to the latter,” CS Rotich said as reported by Citizen Digital.
Nairobi residents in Eastlands areas of Kariobangi, Kayole, Dandora and Donholm have said they are yet to purchase the commodity at the new set prices.