Aston Lukoye
On Monday, May 1, President William Ruto was compelled to address the topic of why the price of unga had not been cut, particularly at supermarkets, after several Kenyans voiced their concerns.
Speaking at the Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi during the 58th Labour Day celebrations, the Head of State explained that different brands sold their unga at the lowest price in the market while others sold theirs for Ksh200 or more, giving Kenyans the freedom to choose from a wide range of brands depending on their budget while speaking at the Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi during the 58th Labor Day celebrations.
“There is maize flour costing 200, other brands go for 180 while the cheapest goes for Ksh158, this gives the consumer an opportunity to choose what suits them,” Ruto explained.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on cheap unga
The President’s remarks came after the crowd yelled at Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua when he mentioned the issue of cheap maize flour, saying that the government had lowered the cost of maize flour.
“The government has put measures in place to lower the cost of living and even the cost of maize flour has come down to something slightly above Ksh150,” Gachagua told the gathering with a section of it opposing him.
The majority of Kenyans had complained that they had yet to find inexpensive maize flour in different stores. In addition, leaders associated with the Azimio la Umoja alliance criticized the government for deceiving Kenyans about the low price of maize flour because the majority of brands still maintained Ksh200 and above as their prices.
At the same time, the Head of State revealed that the cost of unga will not be brought down through street protests, in an attack on the opposition on insisting that demonstrations would not lower the cost of living.
In an attack on the opposition, the Head of State noted that the price of unga will not be brought down by maadamano.
“Demonstrations cannot bring down the cost of living, it can not bring down the cost of maize flour,” Ruto criticised, adding that it was through facilitating farmers with cheaper farm inputs that can lead to cheaper maize flour.
Protests still on
This comes hours after Orange Democratic Movement Leader Raila Odinga announced that protests will continue on Tuesday 2 as planned, and urged demonstrators to be peaceful.
“Our demonstrators have been informed that tomorrow’s protests will be peaceful. No one will carry any weapons,” Odinga said in Nairobi on Labour Day.
Odinga said that they will present petitions at the IEBC offices, the National Treasury, and the Office of the President in the Nairobi CBD.
