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Inflation up to six-month high on kale, tomato costs
Vegetable trader in Chuka market, Tharaka Nithi County. A rise in the prices of sukuma wiki, tomatoes, and potatoes saw Kenya’s inflation rise to 3.6 percent in March 2025.
A rise in the prices of sukuma wiki, tomatoes, and potatoes saw Kenya’s inflation rise to 3.6 percent year-on-year in March from 3.5 percent a month before—the highest level in six months, a report by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) said.
The inflation rate has risen monthly since October 2024 when it was 2.7 percent. It was last at 3.6 percent in September 2024.
A kilo of sukuma wiki retailed at Sh88.51 in March 2025 from Sh65.94 in March 2024, a kilo of tomatoes sold at Sh80.88 from Sh62.57 and a kilo of potatoes retailed at Sh126.48 from Sh109.74 a year ago, latest Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) data shows.
The 34.2 percent rise in sukuma wiki prices, 29.3 percent rise in tomato prices, and 15.3 percent rise in potato prices were the top factors driving the March 2025 consumer price index (CPI), as the rate rose for the fifth consecutive month.
KNBS noted that between February and March 2025, Sukuma wiki prices rose by 6.2 percent, potatoes by 4.5 percent, and maize by 3.3 percent.
“The price increase was primarily driven by a rise in prices of items in the food and non-alcoholic Beverages category (6.6 percent); and Transport category (1.5 percent) over the one-year period,” KNBS stated.
The inflation rate has risen monthly since October 2024 when it was 2.7 percent. It was last at 3.6 percent in September 2024.
Alcoholic beverages followed food items with a 6.1 percent inflation rate and clothing and footwear had a 4 percent rise in prices compared to March 2024, the CPI data shows.
A 26.7 percent rise in the cost of local flights also saw transport record a 1.5 percent inflation rate during the month, even as KNBS noted that fuel prices rose by 11.3 percent over the past year.
Between February and March, the CPI shows, local flight prices went up by 3.9 percent.
As the food, alcoholic, and local flight prices pushed the inflation up, the CPI data shows, a decline in electricity, fuel, and sugar prices calmed the situation.
Sugar prices dropped by 12.3 percent to Sh166.08 for a kilo from March 2024 to March 2025, fuel prices dropped by 11.3 percent and electricity prices by 15.5 percent.
