Kenya: Tomato and kale prices in Nairobi in three-fold rise
A survey by the Business Daily Thursday showed that while supermarkets have remained well stocked and maintained old prices, constrained supply of fresh has emerged as one of the headaches to households.
“Only farmers from Limuru and Wangige have been consistently bringing kales to Wakulima market since the country went to polls on Monday,” said Jose Mutuku, a vegetable vendor at Nairobi’s Muthurwa Market. For a bunch of kales that he sold at Sh20 up to last week, Mr Mutuku was asking for Sh50 to cover the increase in the cost of commodities.
Supply of Irish potatoes is, however, normal. In the same market which accommodates more than 8,000 hawkers, only one vendor — Rose Wanjiru was selling tomatoes.
“Tomatoes have become scarce in Nairobi lately because only deliveries from Mwea have been consistent from Monday,” Ms Wanjiru said, adding that securing her consignment meant she had to be at the Wakulima Market by three o’clock each day.
She has tripled the price due to the shortage, selling each tomato at Sh10 instead of Sh10 for three last Saturday.
In particular, the rise in prices of kales and tomatoes means an ordinary household in Nairobi is bearing heavier burden on food stuff than is captured in the latest inflation figure prepared Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS).
The processed and raw milk prices rose sharply by 21 per cent and 19 per cent respectively between January and February, putting a strain on the household budgets.
But a drop of 7.8 per cent and 9.1 per cent respectively in prices for tomatoes and kales helped to lower the rate of food inflation reported by KNBS for the period to 4.03 per cent.
In Nairobi’s City Market, tilapia fish was out of stock, but fishmongers said the Nile Perch fillets were still on display.
“I hope this uncertainty ends today. We are almost running out of what we stocked on Sunday yet nobody can make fresh deliveries under present circumstances,” said Mr Fredrick Otieno who sells fish at the City Market. He has raised prices by Sh50 on each quantity of fillets he sells.
Source: Business Daily Africa
