Kenyans gathered in Nairobi’s Central Business District on Thursday to protest the high cost of living, which has pushed most families over the edge.
The protesters demanded that the government lower food and basic commodity prices as a condition for them to vote in the upcoming general election.
“Hakuna kura bila kula (There is no election without eating),” they shouted as they staged the protest outside Harambee House.
Food and basic consumer goods prices have been rising in recent months, with the cost of some basic items reaching unprecedented highs.
Maize and wheat flour, sugar, cooking oil, tissue paper, milk, groceries, and bread are the most affected.
Protesters demanded that the price of 2kg maize flour be reduced to Sh70 from the current average price of Sh209 in major supermarkets.
According to an Infotrak research firm survey released on Wednesday, 73% of Nairobi residents believe the country is heading in the wrong direction.
The majority of those who held this opinion (81 percent) attributed it to the high cost of living.
Kenya’s cost of living increased further in May as a result of high food and fuel prices, reaching 7.1 percent, up from 6.47 percent in April and 5.556 percent in March.
According to data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) Consumer Price Index and Inflation, the increase was primarily driven by an increase in the prices of commodities in the food and non-alcoholic beverages basket (12.4 per cent).
This was primarily due to increases in the prices of gasoline and diesel, which rose by 3.8% and 4.4%, respectively.
President Uhuru Kenyatta chastised critics of the rising cost of living during his Labour Day speech on May 1, 2022, and blamed the situation on the Russia-Ukraine war.
On June 9, the Consumer Federation of Kenya (Cofek) urged the Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK) to “restore order in the retail sector,” claiming that manufacturers and retailers were exploiting consumers by taking advantage of the impending general elections, inflation, and the Russian-Ukraine war.
“Abuse of buyer power between manufacturers and supermarkets is hurting both consumers and consumers alike. Retail chains are varying prices at will and in an exorbitant manner,” secretary general Stephen Mutoro said.
However, the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) stated that manufacturers are not raising the prices of locally manufactured goods.
According to the association, the prices are subject to current raw material, transportation, and logistics costs, among other factors that affect the cost of production.
External shocks caused by Covid-19, the Russian-Ukraine crisis, and a weakening shilling against major international currencies were cited.
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