A farmer delivers his maize at the National Cereals and Produce Board in Elburgon, Molo. President William Ruto says the government has set aside Sh4 billion to buy maize from farmers this season. (-)

Kenya’s president, William Ruto on Thursday halted the importation of maize and wheat from the East Africa region in a bid to protect local farmers from losses.

Ruto scrapped the issuance of new permits for grain importation, Nation newspaper reported, adding that the head of state said he would only reverse the decision if the country faced a food shortage.

“No permit will be issued to millers to import wheat or maize into the country. This is to protect our farmers against prices fluctuation in the market, Ruto told official who visited him at the state house.

Ruto, who had just marked one year in office, also revealed that his government has set aside 27 million U.S. dollars (Sh4 billion) to buy maize from local farmers this season.

Kenya has annually imported an average of 295,092 tons of maize in the last five years, according to Kenya National Bureau of Statistics.

A large bulk of these imports of 95% came from Uganda and Tanzania.

On March 5, 2021, Kenya’s Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) also blocked maize imports citing tests on the grain from Uganda and Tanzania that revealed mycotoxins’ levels beyond safety limits.

Burundi also announced a similar ban after its health ministry found high levels of toxic carcinogens in imported maize.