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Originally published by The Standard BusinessJanuary 2, 2026
3h ago
New Year, old problem: Kenyans' struggle with high living cost persists
Households across the country are grappling with the steep cost of staples like maize flour, vegetables, and meat as they start the New Year 2026...
✨ Key Highlights
Kenyans are facing persistent high costs of living as they enter 2026, particularly for essential food items, despite the overall inflation rate remaining unchanged. Food inflation is nearly double the national rate, significantly impacting household budgets.
- Kenya's year-on-year inflation rate held steady at 4.5 percent in December, according to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS).
- Food and non-alcoholic beverage costs surged by 7.8 percent annually, described by KNBS Director General Macdonald Obudho as the dominant driver of overall inflation.
- The price of a kilo of loose maize flour increased to Sh77.90, up 13.2 percent from December 2024, while kale (sukuma wiki) jumped a staggering 23.4 percent annually to Sh98.51 per kg.
- Transport costs also rose significantly in December due to festive demand, with country bus and matatu fares increasing by an average of 5.3 percent.
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