Kenyans To Pay More For Onions As Prices Spike

Onion prices have gone up in both wholesale and retail markets especially in Nairobi in the span of four months owing to the higher cost of imported varieties of the kitchen staple.
This will pile more pressure on consumers, whose purchasing power has witnessed significant erosion in the past months. The price of 1 kilogram of onion is now trading at 150 shillings due to reduced import from Tanzania.
The high cost of production and drought in the country in recent years has also caused a shortage of onions in the country. Onions prices have shot up by 85 percent from 80 percent in March, depending on the variety of the commodity.
Traders also say the price of onions has increased in the domestic market due to the hike in the prices of imported onions from Tanzania, which accounts for a major portion of Kenya’s imports.
Related Content: A Kilo Of Onions Retailing Highest In Nairobi At 100.32 Shillings
Currently, a kilogram of onions in Nairobi retails between 130 shillings and 150 shillings in most parts from between 80 shillings and 90 shillings. A single onion is retailing between 20 and 30 shillings apart from small ones.
A single sizeable onion in Ruaraka around Naivas is going up to 20 shillings while at Ngara market, fig tree, the price of the same commodity is going up to 50 shillings but residents are hopeful that the prices will normalize soon.
Consumers prefer bulb onions from neighboring countries like Tanzania because they are well-dried and therefore have a longer shelf life compared to locally grown onions.
Related Content: Cabbage Prices Down To 50 Shillings As Onions Hit 2.3 Percent High
Neighboring farmers are now selling onions to Kenyan traders for between 115 shillings to 120 shillings per kilogram up from between 30 shillings to 40 shillings for the same quantity a few months ago.
Prices of onions are also high in Kakamega, Bungoma, Mombasa, Nyeri, Kiambu, Naivasha, Nakuru, and parts of Eldoret. Those in Kitale have a reprieve because most of the onions in the region come from Mt. Elgon.
Related Content: Expected Entry Of Tanzania Onions into Kenyan Market Slumps Prices by 12%
- January 2025 (119)
- February 2025 (191)
- March 2025 (212)
- April 2025 (155)
- January 2024 (238)
- February 2024 (227)
- March 2024 (190)
- April 2024 (133)
- May 2024 (157)
- June 2024 (145)
- July 2024 (136)
- August 2024 (154)
- September 2024 (212)
- October 2024 (255)
- November 2024 (196)
- December 2024 (143)
- January 2023 (182)
- February 2023 (203)
- March 2023 (322)
- April 2023 (297)
- May 2023 (267)
- June 2023 (214)
- July 2023 (212)
- August 2023 (257)
- September 2023 (237)
- October 2023 (264)
- November 2023 (286)
- December 2023 (177)
- January 2022 (293)
- February 2022 (329)
- March 2022 (358)
- April 2022 (292)
- May 2022 (271)
- June 2022 (232)
- July 2022 (278)
- August 2022 (253)
- September 2022 (246)
- October 2022 (196)
- November 2022 (232)
- December 2022 (167)
- January 2021 (182)
- February 2021 (227)
- March 2021 (325)
- April 2021 (259)
- May 2021 (285)
- June 2021 (272)
- July 2021 (277)
- August 2021 (232)
- September 2021 (271)
- October 2021 (304)
- November 2021 (364)
- December 2021 (249)
- January 2020 (272)
- February 2020 (310)
- March 2020 (390)
- April 2020 (321)
- May 2020 (335)
- June 2020 (327)
- July 2020 (333)
- August 2020 (276)
- September 2020 (214)
- October 2020 (233)
- November 2020 (242)
- December 2020 (187)
- January 2019 (251)
- February 2019 (215)
- March 2019 (283)
- April 2019 (254)
- May 2019 (269)
- June 2019 (249)
- July 2019 (335)
- August 2019 (293)
- September 2019 (306)
- October 2019 (313)
- November 2019 (362)
- December 2019 (318)
- January 2018 (291)
- February 2018 (213)
- March 2018 (275)
- April 2018 (223)
- May 2018 (235)
- June 2018 (176)
- July 2018 (256)
- August 2018 (247)
- September 2018 (255)
- October 2018 (282)
- November 2018 (282)
- December 2018 (184)
- January 2017 (183)
- February 2017 (194)
- March 2017 (207)
- April 2017 (104)
- May 2017 (169)
- June 2017 (205)
- July 2017 (189)
- August 2017 (195)
- September 2017 (186)
- October 2017 (235)
- November 2017 (253)
- December 2017 (266)
- January 2016 (164)
- February 2016 (165)
- March 2016 (189)
- April 2016 (143)
- May 2016 (245)
- June 2016 (182)
- July 2016 (271)
- August 2016 (247)
- September 2016 (233)
- October 2016 (191)
- November 2016 (243)
- December 2016 (153)
- January 2015 (1)
- February 2015 (4)
- March 2015 (164)
- April 2015 (107)
- May 2015 (116)
- June 2015 (119)
- July 2015 (145)
- August 2015 (157)
- September 2015 (186)
- October 2015 (169)
- November 2015 (173)
- December 2015 (205)
- March 2014 (2)
- March 2013 (10)
- June 2013 (1)
- March 2012 (7)
- April 2012 (15)
- May 2012 (1)
- July 2012 (1)
- August 2012 (4)
- October 2012 (2)
- November 2012 (2)
- December 2012 (1)