KNBS: Six Food Items See Price Increases Despite Drop in Inflation
Kenya’s inflation rate dropped to 3.8% in May 2025, compared to the same month last year, according to fresh figures from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS).
However, despite this decline, many Kenyan households are still feeling the pinch due to rising food prices, increased transport costs, and higher housing expenses.
KNBS data shows that while some basic goods became slightly cheaper, the cost of everyday food items — which make up a big part of household budgets — went up between April and May 2025.
During this one-month period, the price of food and non-alcoholic drinks rose by 1.2%, affecting millions of consumers across the country.
Among the food items that recorded noticeable price increases were:
- Sugar, which rose sharply by 4.3%
- Maize flour (sifted), which went up by 3.9%
- Kale (sukuma wiki), with a rise of 3.5%
These items are commonly consumed in Kenyan homes, and their rising prices continue to stretch household budgets.
On the brighter side, some food prices fell, helping to ease the pressure slightly. For example:
- Irish potatoes dropped in price by 3.7%
- Oranges became cheaper by 1.8%
- Fresh packaged cow milk declined slightly by 0.6%
These reductions, though small, provided a bit of relief to Kenyan consumers, especially in urban areas where the cost of living is already high.
In the non-food sector, the cost of electricity showed some improvement. If your home uses about 50 units (kWh) of electricity monthly, you would have noticed a 1% drop in your electricity bill in May compared to April. Similarly, the price of a 200 kWh electricity unit also went down by 0.9%.
Additionally, the price of a 13kg gas cylinder (LPG) dropped by 0.5%, but fuel prices remained unchanged.
These small drops were not enough to reverse the general rise in the cost of living, as the overall Consumer Price Index (CPI) still showed an upward trend.
The KNBS explained in its report that the housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels index saw very little change between April and May.
For instance, the average cost of renting a single room remained constant at around Ksh 4,170 per month. However, if you compare it to May 2024, rent has increased by 1.7% over the past year.
Transport costs, which take up nearly 10% of most household budgets, also saw a slight rise of 0.2% in May compared to April.
This increase was mainly driven by higher international flight prices, while local petrol and diesel prices stayed the same.
Over the past year, transport expenses have grown by 2.3%, mostly due to changes in global fuel prices and operational costs.
Other sectors also showed mixed performance in May:
- Education services recorded a 0.2% monthly increase, and compared to May last year, costs have risen by 2.9%
- Restaurants and accommodation services rose slightly by 0.1% in May, with a 3.8% year-on-year increase
- Insurance and financial services remained steady during the month but have seen a 0.9% rise since last year
- Personal care, social protection, and miscellaneous goods and services rose by 0.4% in May, contributing to a 3.7% yearly increase
In summary, although the overall inflation rate fell, many Kenyans are still facing higher costs in essential areas like food, transport, and housing.
The increase in the prices of commonly used food items is a particular concern, especially for low-income households.
The government may need to monitor these changes closely and consider policy interventions to protect vulnerable populations from rising living costs.
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