Kenyan households grapple with shortages, high cost of food

Kenyan households are being forced to spend more on basic foods while buying less as shortages of milk, vegetables, meat and eggs spread across shops and markets. Retailers are reporting empty shelves and reduced supplies, with some limiting the amount of milk customers can buy.

The shortages are adding to the pressure on  households already grappling with rising food prices, with traders and producers blaming dry weather, high input costs and rising transport expenses for the reduced supplies.

A spot check by the Standard yesterday revealed a deepening crisis, with major retailers having empty shelves while others are limiting the amount of milk that an individual shopper can buy. Operators of many kiosks continue to report stockout since they receive little to zero stock from the milk processors daily.

According to Jaza store supervisor in Nairobi, Joshua Rono, the shortage of milk in their stores has affected their business as the supply is low.

“There is also a shortage of green vegetables, and even when it comes it is too little to meet the demand. This has pushed prices up and it is also affecting consumer spending,” Rono said.

According to Rono, while the store has some glutten free milk in the stock, many people cannot afford to purchase it because it costs more.

Kenya Dairy Board (KDB) acknowledged the milk shortages, noting that parts of the country had been experiencing supply constraints on account of reduced production due dry weather conditions.

“Preliminary indications suggest a further decline in milk deliveries, reflecting the prevailing seasonal production conditions,” said the Board in a statement.

William Maritim, KDB's managing director said recent market surveillance undertaken by the Board had identified varying degrees of supply constraints across the country such as low stock levels, reduced availability of some brands and pack sizes, and delayed replenishment in some outlets.

Similar reports have been made on availability and prices of eggs. Even though eggs are still available, costs have increased by about a third in a matter of months.

The cost has increased by upto 30 per cent to sell between Sh400 and Sh450 per crate, up from Sh350 earlier in the year while a crate of kienyeji eggs is hoovering at around Sh700 up from Sh480. The increase has been attributed to high cost of animal feeds, high cost of transport and the dry weather.

Herman Chasia, a meet expert at Farmer’s Choice, says a kilo of beef retails at Sh800 at the moment due to scarcity.

He however said that other outlets are retailing a kilo of beef on bones for upto Sh1200.

“The shortage can be attributed to the fact that it is a dry season,” he noted.

As a result, customers are no longer buying in bulk since they cannot stock up more because of the cost.

Even Kenyans staple vegetable has not been spared from the scarcity. Currently, a bunch of sukuma wiki sells at Sh50 up from Sh25.

With the prices of basic commodity going up, Kenyans have been forced to dig deeper into their pockets to cater for a basic meal, while sparing little to zero for leisure spending.

Data by KNBS shows that while the cost of maize flour and tomatoes posted modest drops of between two and 2.7 per cent between July and August, the cost of commodities such as sukuma wiki, potatoes and meat were on the rise.

For instance, the cost of sukuma wiki shot up 29.8 per cent, from Sh93.41 per kg in August 2025, to Sh121.21 per kilo while 500ml of fresh packeted milk increased from Sh56.29 to Sh57.74, as a kilo of potatoes increased from Sh88.96 to Sh118.05.

The cost of beef, according to the index retails at Sh777.36 per kilo from Sh693.59 per kilo, in august 2025. The prices of tomatoes also shot up in the review period, from Sh85.88 per kg in August 2025, to Sh111.03 in August 2026.

What would cost a single household roughly Sh1000 for the above product in August 2025, will require the same household roughly, Sh1200 today.

“Over the 12 months to August 2026, the general price level of items under the food and non-alcoholic beverages division increased by nine per cent,” the KNBS survey showed, indicating a steeper rise in cost of food when compared to August last year.

Other than the dry conditions in recent months that have resulted in an increase in cost of food, the cost of transport has been on an upward trajectory following rise in fuel prices. According to KNBS, there has been a 15.7 per cent increase in the cost of transport since August last year.

The October-December rainfall season is expected to support recovery in pasture and fodder availability, leading to improved milk production and supply.