Inflation in Kenya rises slightly to 6.8%

Kenya’s inflation rose marginally in September after all sectors recorded a general increase in prices. According to data released by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), inflation was 6.8% year on year in September from 6.7% a month earlier.
The agency notes that prices of commodities under transport, food and non-alcoholic beverages and housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels, increased by 13.0%, 7.9%, and 6.3%, respectively between September 2022 and September 2023.
“Food and non-alcoholic beverages index increased by 0.7% between August 2023 and September 2023. This food inflation was mainly attributed to the increase in prices of some food items which outweighed the decrease in the prices of other foodstuffs,” the KNBS statement read.
According to the report, the prices of potatoes, cabbages, and kale increased by 18.4%, 7.4%, and 4.2% respectively.
During the same period, the prices of maize flour-loose, maize flour-sifted, maize grain-loose and wheat flour-white decreased by 6.7%, 6.0%, 5.4%, and 3.6% respectively.
KNBS says the Housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels index increased by 1.4% between August 2023 and September 2023.
“This is mainly due to an increase in the prices of Kerosene by 19.4%, during the review period. However, prices of electricity of 200 kWh and 50 kWh dropped by 2.1% and 2.5% respectively, between August 2023 and September 2023,” read the report.
According to the KNBS data, the transport index went up by 3.5% between August 2023 and September 2023. “The increase was mainly driven by the rise in petrol and diesel prices by 8.7% and 11.8%, respectively,” the report shows.
This comes days after the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA) stated that low-income Kenyans have been hit hardest by high inflation.
The agency says low-income households, who spend about 60% of their income on food bear a heavy burden anytime food prices go up, then the cost of living increases.
AGENCIES