The prices of ten common household items have risen over the last month as the overall inflation also jumps to 3.6 per cent, according to data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS).
This marks the fourth consecutive increase since inflation dropped to below 3 per cent in October last year.
Commodities whose prices have increased include maize flour, potatoes, sukuma wiki, tomatoes, and beef. But there is also an increase in the prices of utilities, including electricity, cooking gas, and local flight tickets.
The prices of 1 kg of maize grain (loose) and 2 kg of fortified maize flour have risen by 3.3 per cent and 2.9 per cent, respectively.
According to KNBS, the prices of one kilogram of Sukuma Wiki, tomatoes, potatoes, and beef with bones jumped by 6.2, 1.3, 4.5, and 0.9 per cent, respectively.
Cooking gas has gone up slightly by 0.2 per cent from February; however, its prices remain 2.7 per cent lower than this time last year.
Kenyans paid more for 200 and 50 kilowatts of electricity in March, as KNBS registered a 0.9 and 1 per cent price increase, respectively.
However, the prices of one kilogram of sugar (0.2 per cent) and bean (0.7 per cent) saw a slight decrease in March.
KNBS data indicates the rent for a two-bedroom house has bumped up by one per cent year on year.
Similarly, the prices of sukuma wiki, tomatoes, potatoes, and maize flour have increased year on year.
Since October 2024, inflation has increased by 0.9 per cent in five months. The inflation stood at 2.7 per cent in October, down from 3.6 per cent in September.
In November, inflation rose to 2.8 per cent before jumping to 3 per cent in December. By February, it had risen to 3.5 per cent.
