The big concern in the country right now is the price of food in general and maize flour in particular. I have mentioned before that the staple food (called just ‘food’ in most places) is ugali which is a thick, pudding-like starch which fills the belly and lasts for hours.
A short while ago it sold for 60 or 70 shillings for a 2 kg bag. Then there appeared to be a shortage and prices shot up to 120 shillings and more and stores imposed rationing.
Why the sudden shortage?
It turned out that certain MPs had obtained (who knows how) special letters of permission to buy from the cereals board in large quantities. They bought and held on to the stocks, driving up the prices, watching while people cut their food intake more and more. Many eat no meat, even once a week. Children get a thin gruel or suck on sugar cane. If a day labourer is fortunate to earn 130 shilling a day and pays rent of 2,000/- per month you can see how much is left.
The newspapers are full of bitter hatred for the MPs who still steadfastly refuse to consider paying taxes on the salaries they set.
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