8 Food Items Set to Reduce in Price This Month

The prices of eight food items are set to reduce this month owing to a number of factors, including the bumper harvest experienced in July 2023 and the increased supply of the products. 

According to an Agricultural Sector Survey released by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) on Thursday, August 10, vegetables will experience the most drop in prices in the month.

The vegetables include sukuma wiki, traditional vegetables, cabbage, carrots, spinach and tomatoes.

Potatoes will also experience a slight change in prices owing to the harvests done in the last few months.

Both unpacked and packed milk prices are set to reduce prices following sufficient supply in the market. Currently, a 500ml packet of milk averagely retails at Ksh60.

On the flip side, prices of other commodities, such as cooking oil, are expected to shoot up in the coming days.

“The prices of cooking oil and cooking fat are expected to rise following a reported shortage of sugar and increased import costs of cooking oil and fat,” read the report in part.

Sugar prices could also exceed the Ksh500 mark even as farmers reported a lack of mature cane.

However, CBK detailed that the government was addressing the expected increase in sugar prices following a Cabinet directive to allow duty-free sugar importation.

Another product that will experience a significant price increase is onions, attributed to the unavailability of mature products in the market. 

The price of a medium-sized onion rose by Ksh5 in the last two weeks, as confirmed by traders in various markets. 

Egg prices, on the other hand, will increase owing to low production witnessed during the cold season experienced in June and July. This could also see the price of common fast dishes such as mayai pasua increase.

The cost of living has been a contentious issue all year round and has dominated the planned talks between the government and the opposition. 

Ruling coalition, Kenya Kwanza, recently insisted that the cost of living will not be part of the dialogue scheduled for Monday, August 14, contrary to the opposition led by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.