Kenya cost of living: KNBS reveals 7 foods whose prices have soared in one year

Kenya's latest cost of living report from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) highlights a sharp rise in prices for several everyday foods over the past year. Irish potatoes experienced the most significant annual increase, with their average price climbing by 32.7 percent between August 2025 and August 2026. Kale, commonly referred to as sukuma wiki, followed closely with a 29.8 percent price hike. Tomatoes also became 29.3 percent more expensive during the same period.

The overall inflation rate in Kenya reached 6.6 percent in August 2026, up slightly from 6.5 percent in July. However, the rate of food and non-alcoholic beverage prices surged to 9.0 percent. This indicates that the headline inflation figure does not fully capture the extent of individual food price increases that households experience.

Other notable price increases include cabbage (21.7 percent), oranges (18.8 percent), beef with bones (12.1 percent), and onions (11.1 percent). The average price of cabbage rose from Ksh61.25 to Ksh74.52 per kilogramme, while oranges increased from Ksh104.95 to Ksh124.69 per kilogramme. Beef with bones saw a price rise from Ksh693.59 to Ksh777.36 per kilogramme.

Despite these rises, some food prices decreased. The average price of 2kg sifted maize flour fell from Ksh157.15 to Ksh152.89, marking a 2.6 percent annual decline. Sugar prices dropped by 10.8 percent, from Ksh186.53 to Ksh166.45 per kilogramme. Cooking oil also experienced a slight reduction, with prices falling from Ksh358.09 to Ksh356.72 per litre. Loose maize grain prices decreased by 0.3 percent, from Ksh72.45 to Ksh72.23 per kilogramme.

These fluctuations highlight that Kenya's cost of living cannot be fully understood by the overall inflation rate alone. While some staples like sugar and maize flour became cheaper, others such as Irish potatoes and kale experienced notable price increases. This disparity means that the impact of inflation on households varies depending on their regular food purchases. The Consumer Price Index, used by KNBS, measures changes in the retail prices of a fixed basket of goods and services purchased by consumers.