A businessman in Kwale County has been sentenced to five months in prison after selling government’s subsidized maize flour at sh120 instead of the prescribed sh90 per 2kg bag.
According to Business Daily, Kwale Senior Resident Magistrate Betty Koech said Moses Ochieng, the trader, breached the law by selling the commodity at a much higher price than prescribed.
“Even if it is the first time the matter is appearing before this court, the accused is sentenced to serve five months in prison or a fine of Sh10,000 so that he can serve as a lesson to others who are exploiting the public,” said the magistrate in his ruling.
Ochieng is the first person to be jailed since the order was issued.
Government through the National Treasury has been controlling the price of the commodity.
In a gazette notice dated May 26, the State has been accorded legal backing for control over the price of sifted maize flour.
The sh90 maize flour came into the market following importation of 30, 000 tons of maize from Mexico three weeks ago.
The government announced Sh6 billion subsidies for maize importers on May 16 in an effort to bring down the cost of the commodity which had soared to sh150 per 2kg bag.
The commodity has since remained in short supply with some stores complaining they cannot get enough of it.
