The unusually high stocks of maize being held by traders in Kenya’s coastal counties are raising fears of speculative hoarding and higher food prices as farmers’ reserves dwindle, while forecast floods between October and December threaten to disrupt food supplies and movement.
The 2026 Long Rains Assessment Report by the Kenya Food Security Steering Group (KFSSG) shows maize stocks held by traders in the coastal region were at 115 per cent of normal levels, compared with only 58 per cent held by farmers.
