Kenya - High food prices, escalating transport costs and rising fuel prices has left many Kenyans digging deeper in their pockets to meet their basic needs. A survey by the Star in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Eldoret and Nakuru showed that prices of basic food commodities like vegetables; flour, sugar and cooking fat have all gone up. Public Service Vehicle operators and cargo transporters have also reviewed their charges blaming it on the high cost of fuel and spares. In Nairobi those interviewed said they could no longer afford some commodities or services that they now consider a luxury. "We come not afford what the government has done to us where by every thing has gone up minus the monthly salary we earn because we have got other responsibilities waiting us to take care of back at home. " said Benjamin Kimindu a supervisor at a Westlands restaurant.

Bernard Mwangi a taxi driver said many of his customers had shifted to using public means that is cheaper compared to the taxi. "We are forced to encounter loss for not increasing the charges to our customers because we are afraid of loosing them and whenever we talk of increasing the amount they threaten us by saying they rather use the public means adding that no one has added them the salary for bus fare allowances where they work," said Mwangi.

Kisumu residents say they have not been spared by the rising commodity prices despite the good harvest in the region. Nyanza provincial director of Agriculture Joash Owiro said the region experienced a bumper harvest last season and that the high food prices has been caused by middlemen out to make huge profits.

A check at various supermarket and food joints revealed an increase of more than 20 percent in most of the shop commodities with flour leading the pack with additional Sh20 per 2kg from Sh 55 last month to Sh 69. Other commodities whose prices have been increased at the shelves are cooking oil, bread, and meat.

In the informal settlements, two kilogram of maize that was trading at Sh30 a month ago is now being bought at Sh70 while the same amount of beans, which was selling at Sh120 a month going is now, going for Sh180.

Transport cost has been doubled with fares from town to estate has been fixed at Sh30 both off peak and peak hours up from Sh15 off peak and Sh20 at peak hours last year.

In Eldoret commodity prices are skyrocketing as farmers in the North Rift region complain that increasing costs will also affect farming activities.

Prices of petrol and diesel have remained high thus affecting the costs of all other farm inputs and most farmers feel agriculture is no longer a profitable business to engage in. "If we cannot bring down the prices of diesel and petrol then Kenyans will always pay more for all other issues including transport and food commodities", said former International athlete Moses Tanui who is also a businessman in Eldoret.

Paul Kimeli who used to drive to work every day has been forced to change and use public transport for more than two weeks in a month because he says fuelling the car costs him more than Sh3,500 per month.

Public transport charges on most routes around Eldoret have also been increasing as matatu operators complain of high fuel costs. Benita Achieng who works at a government office in Eldoret says she has to part with more than Sh2,000 per month for transport to and from work in addition to other costs for food and family needs. "It's getting unmanageable and sometimes when I don't have the money I have to walk to town early in the morning so that I save for the evening", said Achieng whom lives at Huruma and says she was spending about Sh 1,500 on the same route mid last year.

The drought situation has also affected the prices of farm produce especially vegetables and cereals at markets in Eldoret, Kapsabet, Iten and Kitale. Fruits have also attracted high prices as supply dwindled due to drought.

Nakuru residents say high transport costs has pushed up food prices in the town. "Our country is highly dependent on the transportation of goods by road given the currently very poor state of the rail network. Most micro enterprises are dependent on hired transport to fetch items from wholesalers or manufacturers," said Muhia.

Charles Thiong'o, a cereals supplier said that a 90 Kg of maize was costing Sh 2,000, Beans Sh 6000 while Sorghum was going for Sh 4,500 per bag. He said that the prices are projected to continue rising due to the increment of the fuel prices.

Ann Karanja, a Nakuru motorist also attributed the rise in petrol prices to failure by the Government to respond to prevailing conditions in the market. "Unfortunately, it is the passengers that will suffer the burden in increased transport fares if the prices of the petrol continues to increase," Joshua Ndirangu a student at Egerton University.

He added that for small businesses arising from higher inflation, they are not in a position either to negotiate price concessions from manufacturers or wholesalers or to pass inflationary costs on to their consumers. "Small businesses are generally in a much weaker position to ride out periods of reduced consumer spending. The smaller the business, the more vulnerable it is to this," said Nakuru Business Association Chairman Boniface Muhia.

The NBA Chairman appealed to the Government to intervene and stabilize the situation.

Nairobi Star/10/03/2011