Foodstuffs in Kenya have risen around 12.54 percent when compared to their prices in 2016. This rise has also led to an inflation increase of 6.99 percent, the highest it has been in nearly a year.
Latest data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) showed food prices have risen for nine months on end since May 2016, with the latest jump being attributed to drought.
"This was mainly attributed to increases in the price of cabbages, spinach, sukuma wiki, maize floor, wheat flour and maize grain, which were partly contributed to by the prevailing drought conditions," noted KNBS Director General Zachary Mwangi.
Data collected in the second and third week of January in selected retail outlets in 25 data collection zones, shows that food prices recorded the second highest jump after education when compared to December prices.
A kilo of sukumawiki and cabbage each recorded a 6.7 per cent rise in price to USD $0.47 and USD $0.69, making them the food items that experienced the fastest rise. Cabbage costs USD $0.23 more than it did when compared to the price in January of last year. Prices for spinach, beans and onions also saw a rise.
However, at the current level, overall inflation is still at the Central Bank of Kenya's target level of between 2.5 per cent and 7.5 per cent.
