Tissue paper prices:Why pooping in Kenya is now expensive

Kenyans have expressed their frustration over the rising prices of tissue paper. A product that was being sold for Sh20 earlier this year now goes for as high as Sh45, with some brands selling one for Sh60.

Mureithi Regeru, who heads the toilet paper sub-sector at the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM), says the cost of raw materials used in producing toilet rolls has gone up significantly.
“We import most of the raw materials from Egypt. The producing nation has since increased the per unit cost by 50 per cent, compared to the prices in early 202,weakening of the Kenyan shilling against the US Dollar has also affected the foreign exchange rate. Today, the dollar trades at around Sh117 where in January it was trading at Sh113 and that affects our ability to bargain in the foreign market,” Regeru explained.

However,the cost of tissue paper -packaging materials, such polythene, have also gone up by around 40 per cent, “Remember, we distribute these products to supermarkets, wholesalers and retailers using vehicles. So, we have to fuel our lorries, pick-ups and trucks thus the cost of fuel is already up by around 20 per cent leaving the extra cost to the consumer,” Regeru added.

The KAM representative said the change in how banks charge interest on loans taken by companies has also affected how the tissue manufacturing firms operate and price the products.
“Most of these factors are beyond our control. The prices may continue to go up until the market self-rectifies,” he said.

The Consumers Federation of Kenya (COFEK) however, protests the recent price hike in basic items, saying the upward review is unjustified.
“Manufacturers and supermarkets have conspired to place unjustifiable price tags on products so that they can make exorbitant profits,” said Stephen Mutoro, the Secretary General of COFEK.

Therefore,the COFEK secretary-general has asked manufacturers to publish on their websites the recommended retail prices of their products to enable the consumers be in a position to know when they are being overcharged.
Article By Suzy Nyongesa.