High cost of food has pushed Kenya’s October to a five-year high of 9.6%, up from 9.2% in September.
Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) shows that the last time the country witnessed this kind of inflation was in September 2017.
KNBS says the inflation was largely driven by the average cost of food and non-alcoholic drinks, which climbed 15.8%.
Transport accounted for 11.6% of the inflation while the housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels index increased by 7.1%, year-on-year.
Prices of commodities under furnishings, household equipment, and routine household maintenance recorded a 10.9 per cent increase over the period.
In the latest figures, the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which measures the percentage change in the price of a basket of goods and services consumed by households, increased by 0.9% from an index of 126.73 in September 2022 to 127.86 in October 2022.
The month-on-month food and non-alcoholic beverages index increased by 1.4%.
Prices of common household goods including Irish potatoes, sugar and beans increased by 12.5%, 12% and 7.5%, respectively. A kilo of Irish potatoes retailed at KES 90.78 from KES 80.69 in September while a kilo of sugar retailed at KES 154.95 from KES 138.35.
Prices of a kilo of maize flour, cooking oil and carrots dropped by 3.6%, 3.5% and 2.4%, respectively. A kilo of maize flour dropped to KES 177.66 from KES 180.80.
During the same period, prices of cooking oil (salad) and carrots dropped by 3.5% and 2.4%, respectively. The price of a litre of salad oil dropped to KES 366.48 in October from KES 379.84.
Beer, wine and rent went up by 1.2%, 0.8% and 0.7%, respectively, whereas vegetable prices eased during the month, with carrot and onion prices dropping 6.4% and 2.4%, respectively.
The country’s inflation has been on the rise since February when it posted 5.08%.
President William Ruto in his manifesto promised to reduce the cost of living in his first 100 days of office.
Speaking during the launch of the Affordable Housing project in Kibra last week, Ruto maintained that this is still part of his plan asking Kenyans to give him one year to reduce the cost of unga.
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