Prices of Maize and Beans in Nairobi

Maize

Since time immemorial, maize, especially dry maize, has been Kenya’s staple food with almost every household in Kenya consuming it. Regular dried maize is retailing at KSh 40 per kilogram, wholesale price is KSh 37 per kilogram, with a 90kg bag selling at KSh 3,300.

Kenya’s Ministry of Agriculture reported a price of KSh 2,900 for the 90kg bag of maize.

Muthokoi (de-husked) maize, which is a popular alternative to regular dried maize that is often cooked with beans as well as with other common legumes like soya. The retail price is at KSh 50 per kilogram while the wholesale price is KSh 47 per kilogram. The Ministry of Agriculture did not report on this commodity price

Popcorn is another type of maize on the market, and while very popular in Kenya, but is mostly imported from South Africa. This commodity is currently retailing at KSh 170 per kilogram and Ksh 160 per kilogram on wholesale.

Beans

Apart from maize, beans are another important agricultural product on the Kenyan menu. Many people consume beans in Kenya based on their knowledge of different bean varieties along with personal preference and to some extent, pricing too.

Among some of the varieties consumers are paying for in the markets are the following:

‘Nyayo’ beans are the most popular bean variety in almost all restaurants, and small size food vendors in major shopping centers.  This type of bean is highly favored due to its rich red color when cooked with maize, along with its rich red stew making a wonderful meal.

Nyayo retailed at KSh 68 per kilogram with the wholesale price at KSh 66 per kilogram; while the 90 Kg bag sold at KSh 5,900. The Ministry of Agriculture reports a Nairobi market price for the 90 Kg bag at KSh 6,200.

Yellow Beans locally known as Kathika are tasty and do not give gas like other bean varieties.

While greatly lacking in color when cooked this variety is tasty and an increasingly popular meat supplement in domestic households countrywide. Currently it retails at KSh 90 per kilogram while the wholesale price is KSh 85 per kilogram. The 90 Kg Bag sold at KSh 7,650.

Saitoti Beans are a type of bean popular with hotels and restaurants, and a favorite in household consumption too.

Saitoti beans share similar features with Nyayo beans, however these are characterized by being smaller than Nyayo and they retailed at KSh78 per kilogram, with a wholesale price of KSh72 per kilogram. The 90 Kg Bag sold at KSh6,500. 

Rosecoco Beans are very popular in restaurants and for household consumption. These beans have similar features to the Saitoti variety. They retailed at KSh78 per kilogram with a wholesale price of KSh71 per kilogram while the 90Kg bag sold at KSh6,400. The Ministry of Agriculture reports a Nairobi market price of KSh6,200 for the 90Kg bag.

Wairimu Bean is another popular variety of beans with its rich red color often noticeable in Githeri (cooked mixture of maize and beans) and Madondo (beans stew).

The ordinary variety of this bean is currently retailing at KSh74 per kilogram with the wholesale Price at KSh70 per kilogram while the 90Kg bag sold at KSh 6300.