On Wednesday, the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) released the inflation figures for the month of February 2018.
To the surprise of many Kenyans, the inflation rate for the month of February had dropped to 4.46 percent from 4.83 percent in January.
The announcement by the KNBS came in contrary to what economic analysts such as Cytonn Investments Limited and Genghis Capital had predicted about the inflation rate for the month of February.
Cytonn Investments, for instance, had predicted that the inflation rate would fall between 4.6 and 4.8 percent but it seems the statistics body worked hard to prove them ‘wrong.’
READ: Cytonn Projects Inflation for the Month of February to Between 4.6 and 4.8 Percent.
What surprised more people even the most, almost all Kenyan media ran with the stats, in their raw form, proclaiming that the inflation rate had indeed dropped. How? Why is Kenya National Bureau of Statistics hell-bent to lie to Kenyans? The figures given by the body do not reflect the reality on the ground.
During the month of February, fuel prices for kerosene, diesel, and petrol were increased to an all-time high in a period of 40 months.
Kerosene went up by 2.6 percent, diesel skyrocketed by 2.3 percent and petrol increased by 1.5 percent.
Petrol is now up by 1.62 shillings to 107.92 shillings per liter in Nairobi. Diesel is now up by 2.14 shillings to 96.96 shillings per liter in Nairobi. Diesel is widely used by commercial vehicles and in powering machines in industries.
Kerosene has been hiked to 76.75 shillings per liter, a 1.97 shilling increase according to data released by the Energy and Regulatory Commission (ERC).
READ: With Fuel Prices So High, Are Inflation Figures Being Given True?
During the month of February, the subsidized maize flour was nowhere to be seen. The prices had jumped from 90 shillings per 2-kilogram packet to between 120 and 150 shillings per 2-kilogram packet.
During the month of February, electricity bills went up and every Kenyan can attest to this. For the month of February, homes that have been consuming 200-kilowatt hours will still pay 4,068 shillings an equivalent of 201.34 shillings per unit.
Those who consume 50 units monthly will be parting with 682 shillings according to the information given by the Energy Regulatory Commission, (ERC).
Food prices on the ground are just out of reach for many Kenyans who are struggling to put food on the table for their families. Education just got expensive despite the government’s numerous assurances that the secondary education for day public secondary schools is free. Schools are still charging exorbitant fees and parents are paying through the nose.