The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) has reported a rise in the prices of several essential commodities from January to February. According to their latest survey released on Friday, February 28, cooking oil is among the items that have become more expensive in the past month.
Other commodities that have recorded price increases include sugar, tomatoes, onions, kale, milk, beef, local flights, miraa, and mutton.
The survey revealed that sugar prices went up by 3.2 percent, cooking oil rose by 1.6 percent, while tomatoes increased by 1.3 percent. The cost of onions and kale also saw an upward trend, rising by 1 percent and 0.5 percent, respectively.
Similarly, the prices of milk and beef increased by 0.3 percent and 0.2 percent, respectively. Local flight fares recorded a significant rise of 4.8 percent, while miraa prices surged by 4.5 percent. Mutton prices also experienced a slight increase of 0.2 percent.
Inflation on the Rise
KNBS noted that the rise in the prices of these essential goods led to an increase in inflation from 3.3 percent in January to 3.5 percent in February.
“The overall year-on-year inflation rate, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), stood at 3.5 percent in February 2025, which was an increase from the 3.3 percent recorded in January 2025,” the bureau stated in its report.
According to KNBS, this inflation was primarily driven by price increases in various commodity categories under the Classification of Individual Consumption by Purpose (COICOP).
Commodities That Recorded a Price Drop
While some products became more expensive, KNBS also highlighted six commodities whose prices decreased during the same period. These include beans, maize flour, cabbage, potatoes, wheat flour, and electricity.
The survey found that the price of beans dropped by 0.5 percent, maize flour fell by 0.8 percent, and cabbage recorded a 1.8 percent decrease. Potatoes and wheat flour prices declined by 1.8 percent and 2.4 percent, respectively, while the cost of 200 watts of electricity went down by 1.2 percent.
How KNBS Conducts the Survey
KNBS conducts its survey by collecting retail prices of different commodities to compile the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The data is gathered during the second and third weeks of each month from selected retail outlets across the country.
The survey is conducted in 50 data collection zones, with 14 zones located in Nairobi County and the remaining 36 in other urban areas. KNBS ensures that the survey covers diverse economic groups in Nairobi, including lower-income, middle-income, and upper-income areas.
The bureau’s findings provide insight into price trends affecting Kenyan households and help policymakers understand inflationary pressures in the economy.
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