Cooking gas, potatoes and tomatoes are among the basic items whose prices recorded the highest increase in October, according to the latest report by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS).
In its inflation report for October, one kilogram of potatoes increased by 9.6 per cent, while a kilogram of tomatoes rose by 5.4 per cent.
Prices of oranges (1 kg) and carrots (1kg) also recorded an increase of 2.8 per cent each in the past 30 days.
Those seeking to purchase a kilogram of beef with bones will have to pay more as the price increased by 2.5 per cent. Further, a kilogram of Kale (Sukuma Wiki) increased by 2.4 per cent, indicating the high cost of living in the country.
Apart from basic food items, electricity (200 Kilowatts) and 50 Kilowatts also recorded a price increase of 5 per cent and 3.3 per cent respectively.
A 13-kilogram of cooking gas also rose by 7.3 per cent in comparison to the rates in September. A recent spot check by Kenyans.co.ke showed that Kenyan households had to pay an average of Ksh3,000 to refill a 13-kilogram Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).
Fuel prices also recorded a sharp increase with a litre of Petrol, Diesel and Kerosene rising by 2.7 per cent, 2.2 per cent and 1.2 per cent respectively.
Items Whose Prices Decreased
Despite several food items recording a price increase, three basic commodities registered a decrease, with a 2-kilogram of wheat flour featuring on top of the list with a 0.8 per cent drop.
Fortified maize flour (2kgs) and sifted maize flour (2kgs) also dropped in price by 3.2 per cent and 4.1 per cent.
Notably, all non-food items recorded an increase in October, a worrying statistic that shows the tough economic situation in the country.
Kenyans living in bedsitters had to pay more rent by 0.9 per cent. Interestingly, the rent prices also increased by 0.2 per cent in September.
The data highlights the high cost of living, which Kenyans are grappling with at the moment. According to KNBS, the inflation for October 2023 rose by 6.9 per cent, up from 6.8 per cent in September.
This is attributed to the high cost of fuel, increase in food prices and seasonal weather conditions that affect the farmers' produce.
