Ship Carrying 10,000 Tonnes Of Imported Maize To Dock In Mombasa Today

A ship carrying 10,000 tonnes of imported maize will be docking at the port of Mombasa today, Business Daily has reported.

This comes barely a week after the government announced that it will allow free importation of Genetically Modified (GMO) maize and non-GMO maize.

It comes at a time when Kenya is grappling with severe drought affecting both people and wildlife.

According to Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), the consignment will arrive aboard an African Merlin vessel.

It is, however, not known where the consignment is coming from, who is importing it and whether it is genetically modified or not.

Last week, Trade, Investment, and Industry Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria said the government will allow free importation of maize.

The CS said the free importation will run for the next six months, adding that the move is aimed at mitigating the food crisis in the country.

The directive will also apply to imported non-GMO maize.

“In view of the food situation in the country, I shall be signing instruments to allow duty free imports of GMO and non GMO Maize for the next 6 months,” CS Kuria said.

CS Kuria said the imports will be shipped in by the private sector.

“The gazette notice that we will release will open up the market to millers and anyone to import maize duty-free for six months. The government will not import any maize,” Kuria said.