This archive report was first published on 2 August 2019.
Published on August 2, 2019, a report by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) revealed a concerning trend of food insecurity in the country.
With millions of Kenyans struggling to access basic food, the situation has led to violent conflicts over meals. In recent weeks, two disturbing incidents were reported in Kakamega County and the Rift Valley, where a 30-year-old man killed his elderly father over a plate of Ugali and roasted maize, and a teenage boy killed his father over a plate of food during a burial ceremony.
The KNBS report highlighted that Kenyans spend 45 percent of their income on food and drinks, indicating a high level of poverty. The report also noted that food inflation increased by 6.98 percent in June 2019, with the consumer price indices decreasing by 0.36 percent from 204.34 in June 2019 to 203.61 in July 2019.
However, the decline in the Food and Non-Alcoholic Drinks' Index by 1.04 percent was attributed to a decrease in the price of potatoes, sukuma wiki (kales), tomatoes, cabbages, and milk. On the other hand, the cost of other commodities like maize grain, maize flour-loose, beef-with bones, carrots, and onions increased by 0.52, 1.33, 0.23, 6.81, and 1.19 percent, respectively, over the same period.
The maize politics between Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri and the national Strategic Food Reserve Trust Fund (SFRTF) chairman, Dr Noah Wekesa, over the number of maize bags in the country, has further exacerbated the situation. While CS Kiunjuri suggested importation of maize, Dr Wekesa disagreed, stating that there is enough maize for Kenyans.
The late rains observed in the first quarter of the year may lead to a delayed maize harvesting season, resulting in further inflation in food prices. The KNBS also reported an increase in the Alcoholic Beverages, Tobacco and Narcotics Index by 0.82 percent, mainly due to an increase in the price of cigarettes. The Transport Index increased by 0.22 percent, and the Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels' Index increased by 0.14 percent due to an increase in electricity prices.
