Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria on Sunday, November 20 listed items that have registered a drop in their prices since President William Ruto took over.
Kuria attributed the marginal drop to Kenya Kwanza’s commitment to lower the cost of living - a pledge the ruling coalition made in the run up to the August 2022 polls.
In his statement, the Trade CS noted that maize prices had dropped in the last couple of days from Ksh5,600 to sell at Ksh4,900, denoting a margin of Ksh700.
Kuria also stated that the price sugar had dropped by 18 per cent to retail at Ksh5,800 per 50kg bag from Ksh7,200.
Lastly, Kuria noted that Kenyans are buying edible oil at Ksh280 per kilogram from Ksh340 in the previous administration.
A fact-check done by Kenyans.co.ke revealed the following;
A leading supermarket in Nairobi had put some of the commodities listed by Moses Kuria on offer.
Two brands of 2kg maize flour were being sold at Ksh189 and Ksh177 while sugar was going for an average of Ksh290.
Popular brand of edible oil was being sold on offer at Ksh549 and Ksh1100 for 2 liters and 5 liters respectively. Initially, 5 liters was retailing at Ksh1700.
Another popular supermarket was selling 2kg maize flour at Ksh206, 2kg sugar at Ksh312 and Edible Oil 2 liters at Ksh 691.
Before August elections, 2kg of sugar was retailing at Ksh365 while a packet of 2kg maize floor was going for Ksh230.
Ruto announced that his government will subsidize cost of production instead of consumption. This was achieved through lowering of fertilizer prices.
“We are not going to be subsidizing consumption, we are going to work and support producers which will ultimately lower cost of living,” Ruto remarked on September 17, 2022.
According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), the country's October inflation shot to 9.6 per cent from 9.2 per cent.
KNBS attributed the high inflation rate to increase in prices of imported commodities under food and non-alcoholic beverages; transport and housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels.
