“Why are maize millers importing maize from Tanzania and we have maize in Kirinyaga,” a farmer asks.
At first glance, the answer seems obvious. Kirinyaga has fertile soils and visible yields during harvest season while trucks arrive from neighbouring Tanzania carrying maize sacks. But what’s happening beneath the surface reveals why companies sometimes look beyond Kenya’s fields to keep their plants running.
1. National Supply Imbalances Despite Local Crops.
While Kirinyaga produces maize and farmers are harvesting, the aggregate national maize supply has not always met Kenya’s total demand. Even as production increases in some areas, other maize‑producing regions struggle with climatic variability, pests and lower yields meaning overall stocks get tight. When local stocks tighten, millers must source maize wherever they can to keep milling operations continuous and avoid halting production. Government data shows that Kenya at times still relies on imported maize to supplement domestic production especially during lean periods before the new harvest or even weather disruptions.
2. Hoarding and Market Timing Affect Availability
Even when maize is physically present in places like Kirinyaga, much of it may be tied up in the hands of private traders and farmers who store or hoard maize waiting for better prices. The government has publicly warned hoarders to release maize into the market or face duty‑free imports because only a small share of expected deliveries has reached trading floors even with government offers to buy at set prices. That means millers often don’t have reliable access to large, ready‑to‑process stocks which force them to fill the gap from elsewhere.
3. Regional Trade and Duty‑Free Access.
Under the East African Community’s trade protocols, maize from Tanzania and other EAC countries typically enters Kenya duty‑free. This can make imported maize an economically viable option if local supplies are thin or prices spike. Even though overall maize imports from Tanzania have dipped in recent years due to export restrictions imposed by dodging red tape across borders, regional maize remains a key source when local stocks fall short.
4. Consistent Supply Beats Seasonal Peaks.
Local harvests, even in productive counties like Kirinyaga are seasonal. Millers operate year‑round and need regular deliveries of maize to sustain processing lines and meet contract obligations. They have comparatively little flexibility for storage, quality testing and risk management compared with traders. When local stocks cannot be aggregated into bulk quantities with consistent quality and moisture content, millers turn to regional sources that can deliver at scale.
5. Quality Standards and Risk Management
Industrial milling demands high‑quality grain with low moisture and minimal aflatoxin risk. Smallholder‑grown maize can vary widely in quality and without adequate drying and testing infrastructure many bags fail to meet commercial thresholds. Tanzanian suppliers and other regional sources are often able to provide more consistent quality at scale. Another incentive for millers to diversify their sourcing.
In essence, the maize that fills the fields in Kirinyaga doesn’t always translate into bulk, mill‑ready stocks for companies that need steady flows of grain throughout the year. Add to that market hoarding, trade policy, price volatility and quality concerns, it becomes clear why millers sometimes import maize from Tanzania even when farmers at home are harvesting.