By Anne Nyambura
Kenyan households are facing yet another tough month as inflation climbed to a five-month high of 3.5 percent in February, up from 3.3 percent in January, according to the latest report by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS).
The increase was primarily driven by the rising cost of food, fuel, transport, and housing, further tightening consumer budgets.
The food and non-alcoholic beverages index saw a 6.4 percent increase in February compared to 6.1 percent in January, reflecting a sustained rise in staple food prices. Among the biggest contributors to the inflationary pressure were: Sugar: Increased by 3.2 percent, Cooking oil: Rose by 1.6 percent, Beef & goat meat: Each edged up by 0.2 percent, Vegetables: Sukuma wiki increased by 0.5 percent, tomatoes by 1.3 percent, and onions by 1.0 percent
However, some staple foods recorded price declines. A 2kg packet of maize flour dropped by 0.5 percent, while beans, potatoes, and cabbages saw price reductions of 0.5 percent, 1.8 percent, and 1.5 percent, respectively
The housing, water, electricity, and gas category experienced a 0.8 percent drop in February, following a 1.6 percent decline in January. Despite this, overall household expenses remained high, mainly due to increasing costs in other sectors.
Transport costs also surged, with local flight fares rising by 4.8 percent, putting additional pressure on household budgets. Meanwhile, miraa prices spiked by 4.5 percent, affecting consumers reliant on the commodity.
Core inflation, which excludes volatile items like food, fuel, and transport, remained steady at 2 percent. However, non-core inflation, which includes these factors, jumped to 8.2 percent from 7.1 percent in January, indicating persistent price pressures across essential commodities.
The steady rise in inflation is likely to have widespread economic implications, particularly for low- and middle-income households that continue to grapple with rising costs. While some staple food prices declined, the overall trend suggests that inflationary pressures remain a key concern for both consumers and policymakers.
With fuel prices and supply chain disruptions still affecting various sectors, economists warn that inflation may continue its upward trajectory in the coming months. The government may need to implement targeted interventions to stabilize prices and protect household purchasing power.
As inflation remains a key challenge, Kenyan families will be watching closely to see whether economic relief measures, including possible tax cuts or subsidies, could help ease the burden in the coming months.
