Cooking Oil Starts The Year At Highest Prices, Cheaper At Naivas

Cooking oil prices have started the year on a higher mark with a liter of the commodity selling at around 355 shillings.

This is an increase compared to the 206 shillings the commodity retailed at in January 2021, and around  303 shillings in December 2021.

The commodity is cheapest at Naivas and Quickmart Supermarkets with a liter of fresh Fri retailing at 357 shillings, with the same brand going for 374 shillings per liter at Carrefour supermarket.

Five liters of the same brand is going at 1,269 in Naivas supermarket, 1,349 in Quickmart, and 1,368 at Carrefour.

Meanwhile, Besides cooking oil, other basic commodities are still costly. A 2-kilogram packet of Ajab and Pembe wheat flour is retailing at 212 shillings from around 140 shillings in December 2021.

The price surge was attributed to wheat shortages in the country occasioned by the Russia-Ukraine conflicts which disrupted the shipping of the grain.

Meanwhile, breakfast remains expensive with 600 grams of bread selling at 85 shillings and a 2-kg packet of sugar going for 302 shillings. At the same time, 500 ml of Tuzo, Brookside, and KCC are retailing at 57 shillings,58 shillings, and 60 shillings respectively. The milk price surge was attributed to low production as a result of the severe drought being witnessed in the country.

Production normalcy is reported to have slightly rebounded following the rains which have accelerated the revival of grass which is used by many farmers as livestock feed.

On the other hand, an 800 grams bar of whitewash and Jamaa cream is retailing at 178 shillings and 214 shillings respectively. Hanan, Toilex, and Tena tissue papers are retailing at 55 shillings, 40 shillings, and 52 shillings respectively.

Meanwhile, a 2-kg packet of Pembe maize flour is retailing at 195 shillings while Soko is retailing at around 190 shillings. Premium brands such as Amaize are retailing at around 140 shillings.

According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) latest report, inflation slowed to 9.1 percent in December from 9.5 percent a month earlier. Despite being a drop, it closed the year above the central bank’s upper target of 7.5 percent.

Soaring food prices, and high energy costs, have been the major drivers of inflation. Foodstuffs cost 13.8 percent more in December than a year ago. KNBS noted that consumers paid 37.7 percent to 77.47 shillings for a kilogram of maize in December while cooking oil cost 9.1 percent per liter to 330.96 shillings.

With the ongoing global market disruptions caused by various factors such as the Ukraine war and drought, food prices in Kenya are projected to continue increasing further. The food situation outlook in Kenya continues to remain scary.

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