Agriculture

Kenya Ready To Buy Zambian Maize

Zambia is ready to supply part of it’s surplus maize to Kenya,...

By Joshua Jere Zambia24 Published 28 August 2026, 17:33 CAT • 28 Aug 2026 2 min read

By Justine Akakulubelwa

Zambia is ready to supply part of it’s surplus maize to Kenya, at short notice, once the required volumes and terms of reference are finalised.

Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet for Finance and Economic Development, SIAZONGO SIAKALENGE, says with the 5.1 million tonnes produced this year and more than 1.6 million tonnes carried over from last season, the country has enough for consumption and export.

Dr Siakalenge was speaking when a met a delegation from a Kenyan grain trading firm at his office.

He disclosed that Kenya had indicated interest in buying more than 1.5 Million metric tonnes of maize when a Zambian delegation visited the country earlier this year, but the transaction is yet to materialise.

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Dr. SIAKALENGE says formalising maize trade between Zambia and Kenya would also strengthen intra-regional commerce within the COMESA region.

And, delegation leader and Director of BAITA Trading Limited, MARTIN KIROTI, said his firm is ready to immediately buy 10.8 Million bags of maize from Zambia.

Mr. KIROTI said Kenya has formally declared a national requirement of 25 million 90-kilogramme bags of maize, equivalent to about 2.2 Million metric tonnes of maize.

He said his company is prepared to pay and take delivery of the first 10.8 million bags immediately, with a further three million bags required thereafter.

Mr KIROTI said his team is in Zambia seeking government’s assurance that the maize will be reserved for the Kenyan market, while calling for competitive pricing and favourable payment terms to ensure the grain reaches Kenya quickly.

Source: Zambia24 — Read more

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