From KSh 70 to KSh 160: Onion Prices Differ Sharply Across Kenyan Markets

Buy a kilo of onions in Mombasa and you’ll pay less than someone in Migori, sometimes by a wide margin. Prices across the country are still uneven, shaped by how much stock reaches a market, how far it has travelled, its quality and how many locally grown onions are available.

Currently, red onions are going for KSh80 a kilo at Kongowea Market in Mombasa, KSh85 at Wakulima Market in Nairobi and KSh90 in Meru Town. For a trader buying a 50-kilogram bag, that gap can add up to KSh500.

Katani in Machakos was recording about KSh70 a kilo, Eldoret KSh90 and Migori Town KSh160. These numbers were captured on different dates, so they are a rough guide and not a like-for-like comparison.

A separate September snapshot put Kakamega at KSh70 a kilo, Kisumu at KSh100, Kitale at KSh116, Machakos at KSh80 and Nakuru at KSh99. The spread points to how much supply and transport costs can move prices from one town to the next.

Onion prices in Kenya react quickly to the season, transport costs, quality and local demand. When fewer onions reach a market, prices tend to climb. During harvest, when stock is plentiful, they usually ease.

Farmers stand to gain when prices are high, especially where demand is strong. Traders and shoppers far from the main growing areas often pay more, since the cost of moving and handling the produce ends up in the final price.

The farmgate benchmark has recently hovered around KSh58 a kilo. That figure measures something different from retail or wholesale prices, so it shouldn’t be set directly against market quotes.

For the ordinary buyer, the takeaway is simple: what you pay depends on where you shop, the quality of the onions, and whether you’re buying wholesale or retail.

Read Also: Onion Prices Rise Across Kenya’s Markets As Farmers Eye Better Returns