“KNBS Report Highlights Drop in Unga, Electricity, and Essential Commodity Prices”.

The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) released a report on Thursday indicating that the prices of essential items experienced fluctuations in November compared to October. The report highlighted that eight basic commodities showed a decline in prices during this period.

Notably, maize flour (2-kilogram packet) saw a significant drop of 6.5 per cent, followed closely by potatoes with a 7.1 per cent decrease (1 kilogram). Moreover, electricity prices exhibited a reduction by 1 per cent for 200 Kilowatts and 1.2 per cent for 50 Kilowatts. Other items that experienced a decrease in prices included Sukumawiki (2.4 per cent), maize grain (3.3 per cent), and cabbages (3.6 per cent).

The return of the subsidy program contributed to the reduced prices of kerosene and diesel by 1 per cent compared to October. However, some food items witnessed price hikes, such as tomatoes (17.7 per cent), oranges (3.8 per cent), wheat flour (3.3 per cent), carrots (2.7 per cent), beef (1.9 per cent), and onions (1.1 per cent).

Despite President William Ruto’s commitment to making cooking gas affordable for all Kenyans, a 13-kilogram Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) saw a price increase of 1.1 per cent. Additionally, cement prices surged by the same margin, impacting those in the construction sector.

KNBS reported that the country’s inflation in November was at 6.8 per cent, a slight decrease from 6.9 per cent in the previous month. Contributing factors to the inflation rate included transport, housing, utilities, and the food industry.

The KNBS statement followed President Ruto’s affirmation of his administration’s success in reducing the cost of living during the first anniversary of the Hustler Fund at Green Park Garden. However, the opposition, represented by Raila Odinga, maintained that the government had not fulfilled its promise, citing the continued struggle of Kenyans to cope with the high cost of living. Odinga threatened to take action to compel the government to address this issue further.

Article By Suzy Nyongesa.