The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) has listed electricity as one category of products and services whose prices rose in September compared to August this year.
In its monthly survey report published on Tuesday, September 30, KNBS disclosed that the price of 200 kilowatts of electricity rose by 1 per cent, depicting a worrying trend for electricity users.
At the same time, several food commodities recorded mixed changes, with fruits and vegetables such as oranges, mangoes, cabbage, potatoes, and tomatoes experiencing price increases.
According to the bureau, prices of oranges, mangoes, cabbage, potatoes and tomatoes rose by 5.6 per cent, 3 per cent, 2.7 per cent, 2.6 per cent and 1.2 per cent respectively.
On the other hand, leafy greens and cereals registered price declines. The price of kale dropped by 1 per cent, spinach by 1.8 per cent, fortified maize flour by 2.2 per cent, and sifted maize flour by 3 per cent.
The report further highlighted that during the same period, transport-related products and services recorded both increases and decreases in prices.
The price of car batteries rose by 1.4 per cent, while the price of car rental went up slightly by 0.4 per cent. In contrast, fuel prices declined, with the price of diesel falling by 0.1 per cent and the price of petrol decreasing by 0.4 per cent.
As per the survey report, the hard drinks were the most hit sector, with hard drinks and stimulants recording significant price increases.
Nonetheless, prices in the clothing and footwear division showed both declines and increases. The cost of men’s leather shoes dropped by 0.3 per cent, while men’s shirts decreased slightly by 0.1 per cent.
Similarly, prices of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) items shifted slightly; the price of TV subscription fees rose by 0.7 per cent, while the price of satellite dishes and decoders increased by 0.2 per cent.
The shift in prices of commodities during the month also took a toll on motorists as the cost of motor vehicle insurance rose slightly by 0.2 per cent.
According to the Bureau, the rise in most of the products significantly impacted the country's level of inflation, which rose slightly from 4.5 per cent in August to 4.6 per cent in September.
