Reduced cost of Kenya's staple food turns political

One of the main candidates for Kenya's 9 August elections has criticised the timing of a subsidy to reduce the cost of maize flour which is used to make the country's staple food - ugali.

William Ruto, who is the country's deputy president, accused the president, who he has fallen out with, of using lower food prices to influence the election.

"The government wants to reduce the price of unga (maize flour) because elections are near. The same government initially blamed high prices on the Ukraine-Russia war, and the war is still ongoing, so why did you leave Kenyans to suffer?" Mr Ruto is quoted as saying.

The country's ministry of agriculture announced on Monday that it had signed a deal with millers to sell a 2kg packet of maize flour for 100 Kenya shillings ($0.84; £0.70) down from 210 shillings.

The prices will remain unchanged for four weeks, The Nation news site reports.

Mr Ruto is aiming to become Kenya's fifth president. His main rival, Raila Odinga, has the support of current President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Addressing the rising cost of living is one of the main issues of concern for voters.

This article originally appeared in BBC News

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