Residents of Murang’a County are beginning to experience relief from the high cost of living following a notable decline in the prices of key food commodities that had remained high for several weeks.
A spot check by KNA at Mukuyu Market within Murang’a town revealed that the cost of several commonly used vegetables has dropped significantly, easing pressure on household budgets.
Tomatoes, which previously retailed at between Sh.110 and Sh.140 per kilogram, are now selling for about Sh.60 per kilogram.
Onion prices have also fallen from around Sh150 per kilogram to approximately Sh120 per kilogram.
The reduction comes at a time when many Kenyan families have been grappling with rising living expenses, including food, transport, and utility costs.
Consumers in Murang’a say the lower prices are helping them stretch their incomes further after months of struggling to afford basic household necessities.
According to traders, the decline has been driven largely by improved supply following the recovery of farming activities in major food-producing regions.
Earlier in the year, heavy rains disrupted production and transportation networks, leading to shortages and a sharp increase in market prices.
However, while consumers are welcoming the drop, traders say the situation presents a different challenge for them.
Fredrick Maina, a vegetable vendor at the market, observed that an influx of produce has flooded the market, forcing sellers to reduce prices in order to attract buyers.
“There are so many tomatoes coming from the farms and into the market. We are competing with a lot of stock, which has pushed prices down significantly. While customers are happy, our profit margins have reduced,” noted Maina.
He argued that the oversupply has made it difficult for traders to maintain earnings, with some sellers struggling to recover transport and operational costs.
For shoppers, however, the price reduction is a welcome development. Evelyn Niau, a resident who frequents the market, said the falling food prices have eased the burden on many families.
“We are happy because we can now buy more vegetables with the same amount of money. We hope fuel prices will also come down because transport costs affect the prices of almost everything,” she said.
Economists have long pointed to fuel costs, weather conditions, and agricultural production as key factors influencing food prices in Kenya.
Any disruption in supply chains often results in price spikes, while improved harvests typically lead to lower market prices.
In recent months, consumers across the country have faced fluctuating prices of fresh produce due to adverse weather conditions that affected farming in several regions.
The latest decline is therefore seen as a positive sign of market stabilization and improved food availability.
Both traders and consumers remain hopeful that prices will remain stable in the coming weeks, particularly if weather conditions continue to support agricultural production and transport costs remain manageable.
By Bernard Munyao and Ann Kendi
