Sugar Prices No Longer So Sweet for Kenyans as Cost of Living Doubles

By Virginia Mwangi

The price of sugar is no longer as sweet as the commodity; prices continue to rise following a shortage after Government agencies cleaned up the shelves after the sugar was reported to be poisonous.

Sugar has always been termed as unhealthy and is said to contribute to a number of lifestyle diseases if not regulated. Unlike a number of years back when the commodity was a luxury in a majority of homesteads, the addictive sweetener has found itself in most homes and its addictive nature has led to Kenyans crying foul over the prices.

Well, to the section of Kenyans with a sweet tooth, I mean those who enjoy up to five spoons of sugar into their cup of tea, reorganize your monthly house budget as sugar prices refuse to be left behind as other commodities are hiking.

“You are my sweetie, my sugar, my babe,” our relationship with Sony and Mumias did not go so well despite the latter giving us such creative adverts. A kilogram of sugar once retailed at 80 shillings, those were the good old days before our pigs ate up our productive Mumias and Sony sugar companies. Sugar has always been termed poisonous if not regulated, it can only be hoped that the side effects of those that ate Mumias and Sony companies will soon be seen, and after all, it is the only justice we can be sure of in this country.

Currently, a two-kilogram packet of sugar is selling at 285 shillings in Naivas supermarkets from 200 shillings last month and a staggering 300 shillings at local estate shops. This is more than a 35 percent increase that could still see the commodity rise above 300 shillings.

If President Uhuru wishes to make radical changes to Kenya’s health long termly, he probably just needs to treble the price of sugar and bring down the ballistic price of fuel to enable business and maize flour which a staple product in most households.