Small Households Under Fire as Sugar Prices Go Through the Roof

As the debate on the presence of contraband sugar that contains both mercury and lead rages on, sending multiple chills down the spines of many Kenyans, small households are feeling the heat as prices now go through the roof.

With the ongoing crackdown of ‘illegal’ sugar by the government, most large-scale retailers have pulled the commodity off the shelves for fear of being arrested pushing the prices up in the process.

Before the crackdown kicked off, a one-kilogram packet of sugar was retailing 90 shillings and 100 shillings in various shops and supermarkets. The retail price of sugar from the factories was at 74 shillings per kilogram.

In the wake of crackdowns, a kilogram of sugar has now risen to between 130 and 140 shillings in major supermarkets across the country and up to 180 shillings in smaller shops in other parts of the country.

The retailing price of a kilogram of sugar from the factories has now increased from 74 shillings per kilogram to between 100 and 110 shillings.

According to an article published by the Business Daily, a two-kilogram packet of sugar is retailing at 275 shillings at Naivas supermarkets, up from 200 shillings in June with this being a 35 percent increase in less than a month.

Other supermarkets such as Tuskys and Choppies are selling a two-kilogram packet at 260 shillings up from 200 shillings less than a month earlier.

In most shops in Bungoma County, for instance, locals have complained of a two-kilogram of sugar going for as much as 320 shillings in some parts of the county.

Despite the skyrocketing prices, the government has continued to insist that there is enough sugar supply and that the shortage is being created by some unscrupulous traders.

As the country awaits with an abated breath to know whether they have actually been consuming ‘poison’ or not, the common man’s pocket continues to yawn with the escalating prices.