Nairobi residents have been paying more for Irish Potatoes in the past two months.
A spot check by Sokodirectory Investments showed that some retailers are selling 3 potatoes at 20 shillings while a bucket of potatoes that used to be between 400 shillings to 500 shillings is now being sold at 700 shillings to 1000 shillings.
The increase in prices was attributed to the heavy rains that hit the country which in turn led to low production for the first season, but the market is likely to go back to the normal prices from the month of October once harvesting of potatoes starts in various potato growing areas across the country.
A 50-kilogram bag of Red Irish Potatoes is being sold at 7,000 shillings in Kisii, 5,000 shillings in Malindi, 4,000 shillings in Isiolo, 3,700 shillings in Busia, 3,200 shillings in Mombasa, 2,600 shillings in Eldoret, 2,500 shillings in Nakuru and 2,400 shillings in Kisumu.
The table below gives a summary of market prices for different commodities in various towns across the country:
As can be seen from the table above, a 64-kilogram bag of tomatoes is retailing at 6,000 shillings in Kisumu, 4,800 shillings in Nairobi, 4,000 shillings in Kisii, 3,500 shillings in Busia, 3,000 shillings in Nakuru, 2,800 shillings in Eldoret, 2,000 shillings’ in Mombasa and Isiolo respectively and 1800 shillings in Malindi.