500ml Packet Of Milk At Ksh 70 As Commodity Prices Continue Rising

Kenyans are still going through rough economic times as they face numerous economic problems that have come along with the rising cost of living.

The prices of essential items, including soap, cooking gas, and cooking oil, have risen by up to a third in the past 12 months, straining household budgets at a time when average private-sector pay is growing at the slowest pace in a decade.

This has forced many households, especially in the low-income segment, to reduce their shopping basket in an environment where firms have frozen salaries as they recover from Covid-19 economic hardships,  as well as the pressure of an election year.

In cities such as Kisumu and Nairobi, about 50 percent of the residents spend their income on food alone, 30 percent on rent then the rest is left to pay school fees, transport, emergency, and debt.

Milk prices have gone up on a supply shortage since early this year making breakfast costlier. A 500Ml of Freofa whole milk is now retailing at 70 shillings across the country.

The price of a bar of laundry soap has also gone up. An 800g of Jamaa bar soap is 230 shillings while the same quantity of Menengai bar soap is 235 shillings.

Another commodity whose price has since spiked since the year began is cooking oil. A liter of fresh Fri and Avena cooking oil is now retailing at 436 and 410 shillings respectively.

Meanwhile, 3 liter and 5 liters of Fresh Fri brands are selling at 1,268 shillings and 2,014 shillings respectively.

These prices have pushed people to turn to cook fat which is a bit cheaper. A 2kg Kimbo cooking vegetable fat is 819 shillings.

A kilogram of Nutrameal Sugar is 135 shillings while 2kg is retailing at 270 shillings.

Wheat flour prices have remained relatively the same for the third consecutive month. A 2kg of Pembe, Ajab, and Exe Brands are going for 200,208 and 197 shillings.

The cost of 1kg of Mwea pishori rice is 360 shillings across the country.

Other essential commodities such as salt and Eggs have also gone up. A crate of eggs is 450 shillings while a kilo of salt is 35 shillings. One egg is going for 15 shillings.

The price surge has also been driven by global geopolitical and supply chain concerns, exposing Kenya’s soft underbelly as a net importer of essential raw materials required for the manufacture of basic household items.

Kenyans are hopeful that the newly elected government will help in reducing the cost of commodities to ease the cost of living.

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