Unga shortage hits Eastlands as Kenyans rush to stock before elections

Many residents have been trooping to Supermarkets in Eastlands since July 21 – just a day after Uhuru lowered the prices of unga from Ksh250 to Ksh 100 – looking to stock their kitchens as August 9 nears.

The sudden rush to stock has seen many traders run out of stock, something that has significantly pushed the prices above the proposed Ksh100.

At Naivas Supermarket in Komarock area, the shelves were empty on the evening of Saturday, July 30, no sign of unga.

“I came here with my husband to do some shopping, but I am disappointed there is no unga, all of it has been bought,” said a disappointed Winnie Akinyi.

“I am letting my husband to take the other shopping back to the house as I walk around the estate to try and find unga,” she added.

Most shoppers wore a disappointed look even as they lined up to pay for their shopping, with no sign of unga in their trays.

According to one of the Supermarket attendants, buyers have been streaming into the supermarket to grab the precious commodity since it was the first seller to reduce prices.

On her part, Millicent Kamau had to line for nearly 30 minutes to buy two packets of unga somewhere in Kayole.

She said: “I came to buy six packets of unga, because I needed to stock as we get into elections, but the shopkeeper could only allow me two packets.”

Ms. Kamau said she bought a 2-kg packet of maize flour at Ksh 130, yet another place was selling a packet at Ksh 118.

“There is serious demand, and many people are looking to buy, yet there seems to be a shortage,” said Ms. Kamau noting that she bought a brand of unga she has never seen in the market.

“It’s possible people are buying maize floor from major brands, repackaging and selling as a different brand and at a much higher price,” alleged Ms. Kamau.

The situation is said to be the same in other Nairobi estates.

Meanwhile, some families have had to resort to buying maize which they then mill at posho mills as unga shortage continues to bite.