Report Reveals Why Cost Of Chips, One Bedroom Houses Went Up

Kenyans had to dig deeper into their pockets to afford among them a plate of chips following a report by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) which revealed that the cost of living hit a five-year high of 9.6 per cent in October 2022 compared to the same period in 2021. 

KNBS director general, Macdonald Obudho, attributed the inflation hike to the spike in prices of daily commodities according to the Indices (CPI) and Inflation Rates report released on Monday, October 31. 

The cost of Irish potatoes recorded an increase of 12.5 per cent, from Ksh80.69 per kilogram to Ksh90.78 per kilogram from September to October 2022, compared to Ksh68.45 per kilogram in October 2021.

This, therefore, meant that vendors, who relied on Irish potatoes to make the delicacy, had to charge more to customers in order to purchase the potatoes, according to some of them who spoke to Viral Tea.

Irish potatoes are one of the staple foods in Kenya, just like maize and rice. They are consumed by a lot of Kenyans and can be mashed, boiled or used to make French fries or chips.

Notably, Kenyans this month complained about the increase in fast food items, with multinational fast-food chain Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) the most widely reported with some popular menu items going for Ksh450, up from Ksh390.

Other commodities whose prices went up include the rental cost of a one-bedroomed house which went to a mean cost of Ksh12,394, up from Ksh12,193 - a difference of Ksh201.

Kenya Power, which is eyeing reforms, had Kenyans paying more for the cost of 50 kilowatts, from Ksh963.73 to Ksh968.82. Large-scale consumers parted with Ksh80 more during the same period.

"The rise in inflation was largely due to an increase in prices of commodities under food and non-alcoholic beverages (15.8 per cent); transport (11.6 per cent) and housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (7.1 per cent).

"Transport Index increased slightly by 1.0 per cent between 2022 October and September 2022 due to increase in matatu fares, taxi fares among others," the report read in part.

Sugar and beans recorded increases of 12.0 and 7.5 per cent, respectively. Sugar consumers paid Ksh16.6 more per kilogramme with a 2kg-packet costing between Ksh300 and Ksh330 in most retail shops.

The cost of beans increased by Ksh11.22 per kilo, while a kilo of potatoes retailed an average of Ksh90.78 from Ksh80.69 in September 2022. 

Other products included alcoholic beverages such as lagers and spirits, fresh and packaged milk, and fruits.

Notably, the cost of cooking oil was reduced to Ksh 13 per litre for the first time, while the cost of sifted maize flour, carrots, and tomatoes dropped in October 2022 as compared to September 2022.

The cost of fuel products; petrol, diesel and kerosene, dropped by an average of Ksh1 per litre.

EPRA lowers fuel prices for between October 15 and November 14. /VIRALTEAKE