The cost of living in Kenya increased slightly in October, with new data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics indicating higher prices for electricity and several food items.lolllo
According to the latest Consumer Price Index and Inflation report by Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, households consuming 200 units of electricity paid about Ksh5,764 in October, from Ksh5,597 that was recorded in Septembelr.
Those using 50 units saw a smaller increase from Ksh1,274 to Ksh1,315 over the same period.
KNBS further observed that the country’s foods recorded mixed trends in the reviewed period, some of the items increased while others eased slightly.
The foods whose prices went up included Irish potatoes, cabbages, mangoes, oranges, onions, and beef.
The cost of oranges recorded the biggest jump, moving to 4.2 percent from Ksh110.84 to Ksh115.54. Mangoes went up by 3.8 percent, potatoes by 1.6 percent, onions by 1.4 percent, and cabbages increased by less than one percent. Beef prices went up by 0.5 percent.
At the same time a few staples became cheaper: Sifted maize flour dropped by 2.3 percent, fortified maize flour by 2.2 percent, with slight reductions of between 0.5 and 1.2 percent for sugar, beans, eggs, and sukuma wiki.
In transport, the picture was mixed. KNBS said international airfares went down by 0.6 percent, while the prices of petrol and diesel remained unchanged. However, local travelers paid more for country bus and matatu fares, which rose by 1.4 percent.
Prices for some non-food items also inched higher. The report reflects a 0.1 percent increase in the cost of spirits, a 0.4 percent rise in cigarette prices, and a 0.3 percent increase in pay-TV subscriptions.
In contrast, prices of electronic items slipped marginally. Mobile phone handsets decreased 0.1 percent and laptop prices went down by 0.2 percent. The cost of education, insurance, and financial services was flat.
Despite these slight changes, the inflation rate in Kenya remained constant at 4.6 percent in October, the same that was realized in September.
