Kenya advised to allow GMO maize imports due to drought — Daily Maverick
Kenya is expected to face a maize shortage due to drought: in the 2026–2027 marketing year, the country may need to import about 2 million tonnes to cover annual demand of 4 million tonnes. An author for Daily Maverick urged Kenyan authorities to review the ban on imports of genetically modified maize in order to expand procurement options.
According to U.S. Department of Agriculture data cited in the publication, the local maize harvest was severely affected by drought, so Kenya will have to rely on imports.
Limited supply of white maize
In Kenya and many other African countries, white maize is predominantly used for food. It is produced less widely than yellow maize, which major producers, including the United States and South American countries, mainly use for feed and industrial needs.
The article names Mexico, South Africa and Zambia among the largest producers of white maize. South Africa harvested a record 17.4 million tonnes of maize this season, while its domestic consumption amounts to 12 million tonnes. According to the author's estimate, the country can export more than 3 million tonnes of grain.
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From the beginning of May to the beginning of September 2026, South Africa had already exported approximately 1.1 million tonnes of maize to South Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan and countries in southern Africa.
Imports from South Africa
In the column author's view, the main obstacle to purchases from South Africa is not a supplier refusal, but Kenya's ban on imports of genetically modified maize. Approximately 85% of maize produced in South Africa is genetically modified, the publication states.
As an example, the author cited Zimbabwe, which does not grow genetically modified maize but allows its import and is one of the major buyers of white maize from South Africa. In the short term, Kenya may also obtain part of its non-genetically modified grain from Zambia, which has a surplus of nearly 2 million tonnes. At the same time, prospects for longer-term supplies from Zambia remain uncertain because of a likely drought next season.
