Ugali is undoubtedly the staple food in many Kenyan households. However, this may soon change if the current trend in the cost of living is anything to go by.
Kenyans.co.ke conducted a thorough research on the history of the ongoing maize flour crisis that has seen many families unable to afford the meal.
A look at the Kenya Demographic Health Survey (KDHS) of 1979 shows that in 1978, at the time of Mzee Jomo Kenyatta's death, a 2kg packet of maize flour was retailing at Sh2.50.
Realising that a healthy and well-fed population was key to development, President Moi ensured that the price of maize flour was affordable to many Kenyans. In 1993, the price rose to Sh22 for a 2kg packet of maize flour and this was viewed to be high at the time.
The highest price range attained in the 24 years of Moi's reign was between Sh40-Sh50 for a 2kg packet.
In the initial years of President Mwai Kibaki's rule, the commodity retailed between Sh55 and Sh75.
2009 was perhaps the onset of a worrying trend to many Kenyans. Within January and February, the price of the commodity rose from Sh72 to Sh95.
Soon afterwards, it shot further to Sh120 sparking concern and protests from a section of Kenyans.
That Kenyans value Ugali is not in doubt. On July 7, 2011, when ugali seemed to be slipping out of their reach, Kenyans took to the streets to compel the government to do something to return the staple food back to their tables.
At the time of the protests, a 2kg packet of maize floor was retailing at Sh 130 – above the price of wheat for the first time in history.
When coming to power, the Jubilee administration rode on a promise to reduce maize flour prices to Sh60 for a 2kg packet. At the time it was retailing at between Sh100 and Sh115.
In May last year, a 2kg packet of maize was going for between Sh97 and Sh110. Barely a year later, the price for the same commodity has soared reaching an all-time high of between Sh150 and Sh189 for a 2kg packet.
The government is currently in frantic efforts to make the product affordable to Kenyans ahead of elections even as key opposition leaders hint at an 'Unga revolution' that could see Jubilee lose elections.
