Sukuma wiki prices rise most among basic home items

The cost of Sukuma Wiki (kale) has increased the most over the past year among goods used to measure inflation, reflecting the burden homes face amid the rise in food prices.

The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics show a kilo of Sukuma retailed at Sh60 in April up from Sh38 a year ago, representing a growth of 63.2 per cent.

Many Kenyans are struggling to put a decent meal on the table as food prices race ahead of wages, especially for poor households who spend a larger share of their income on food.

Sukuma Wiki tends to be consumed along with staple maize flour whose prices increased by a third over the past year with 2kg packet retailing at an average of Sh135.90.

Homes that opt for cabbages as an alternative to Sukuma Wiki have not been spared as a kilo of the vegetable has increased 54.84 per cent since April last year to Sh85.39, making it the second fastest price rise among commodities in KNBS inflation basket.

“The increase in food prices was partly contributed by prevailing drought conditions. The year on year food inflation stood at 20.98 per cent in April 2017,” said the report.

At 20.98 per cent, the food inflation surpassed the 18 per cent rise in minimum wage granted by President Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday to raise workers purchasing power after a two-year freeze.

Kenya declared starvation a national disaster on February 10, calling for aid to counter drought that was posing a major risk to people, livestock and wildlife.

The Kenya Red Cross estimated around 2.7 million people are in need of food aid after low rainfall in October and November and long rainy season that starts in late March has been erratic.

High cost of food saw inflation jump to 11.48 in April from 10.28 the previous month.