Kenya Ready to Buy 10.8 Million Bags of Maize from Zambia

Kenya is looking to immediately purchase 10.8 million bags of maize from Zambia to help ease a grain deficit brought on by a below-normal harvest at home.

Baita Trading Limited Director Martin Kinoti said the Kenyan grain trading company is ready to buy the maize from Zambia as soon as the necessary trade terms are finalised. He explained that Kenya has a national maize requirement of around 25 million bags, equivalent to 2.2 million metric tonnes, but is now facing a shortfall following poor harvest prospects this year.

Mr Kinoti said Zambia was among the countries Kenya was turning to for additional supplies to bridge the gap and meet its domestic needs.

The interest from Nairobi comes as Zambia confirmed it holds more than enough maize to support both local consumption and the wider regional market. Secretary to the Cabinet for Finance and Economic Development Dr Siazongo Siakalenge said the country currently has 5.1 million metric tonnes of maize, in addition to 1.6 million metric tonnes carried over from last season.

According to Dr Siakalenge, these healthy stock levels put Zambia in a strong position to facilitate exports to countries grappling with grain shortages across the region.

He added that the Government stood ready to support maize exports as soon as trade terms are agreed between the relevant parties, reaffirming Zambia's growing role as a reliable supplier of the staple grain in the region.