Sukuma Wiki Prices Down 5% as Cabbages Hit 4% Low

According to the latest Kenya National Bureau of Statistics report, prices of kale (Sukuma wiki), spinach, and cabbages dropped by 5.0, 4.1, and 4.0 percent, respectively.

This comes amidst an economic turmoil facing Kenyans, with the prices of almost all other essential commodities shooting above the roof.

A market survey by Soko Directory from selected towns across the country showed that a 50-kilogram bag of Sukuma wiki is retailing at an average market price of 3000 shillings in Eldoret and Kitale and 2000 shillings in Nairobi and Kisumu.

One -kilogram bag of Cabbages is going for an average of 98.04 shillings in Mombasa and Nairobi, making it the highest market price compared to other towns.

Compared to a few months ago when markets across the country had been flooded with green leafy vegetables, the market has been experiencing a slight shortage of the same. Thus, price reduction comes as a relief to many struggling Kenyans.

Farmers are also hopeful that there will be a surplus production of the vegetables with the onset of the rains, which have been absent for the last three seasons.

During the rainy season, medium-sized cabbages are sold as low as 10 shillings, but their cost is currently up to 50 shillings.

Meanwhile, tomato farmers have witnessed a drop of up to 40 percent in the wholesale commodity prices over the past month due to the flooding of Ethiopian tomatoes in the local market.

The approximate price range for the commodity in various markets stands at 310.15 shillings per kilogram, even though this should be a profit-reaping period for farmers.

The average price for a ton is 332,270.57 shillings in Mombasa and Nairobi, while the 200Kg crate sells at 10,000 shillings in Nairobi.

The price of a small sack of onions (10kg), on the other hand, is now 1,200 shillings, according to traders at Marikiti market in Nairobi, while a single onion retails between 10 and 15 shillings apart from small ones, which are 5 shillings across major towns.