Cost of basic commodities on the rise in Kenya

Kenyans have taken to social media under the hashtag #LowerFoodPrices, to protest against the soaring cost of basic commodities in the country that have made the cost of living unmanageable.

#LowerFoodPrices, which has been trending since Sunday, is aimed at highlighting the struggles of the common Mwananchi in making ends meet in the current economy, with the hope of getting the government, particularly president Uhuru Kenyatta to “do something”.

“Hii Kenya imekuwa ingine! masikini sijui tutaelekea wapi” Mwangi, a boda boda operator said in despair. (Kenya has changed! There is no room for the poor).

The cost of basic commodities have been on the rise this includes milk, bread, cooking oil, sugar, cooking gas. Cooking oil prices for instance have spiked by 27 per percent since the start of 2021.

Below are some of the tweets shared under #LowerFoodPrices

BRAVIN YURI: Members of Parliament, Senators, MCAs are now joining the common Kenyan in complaining about the food prices when the same people pass laws that directly make the food prices shoot upwards. High taxation etc. A bunch of pretenders. #LowerFoodPrices

Evans Miloo Rutto🇰🇪: Families are going through hell,mara sio Rent, food, clothing hata fare, Kenya maisha imekuwa ngumu sana, if you come across this Just Retweet , Government should #lowerfoodprices

Ja Loka: We should conduct a nationwide strike, the Twitter trend isn’t enough. we can’t be buying 1kg of cooking oil at ksh290 and Sugar at ksh250 bana. Kenya isn’t a country. There is no equality in this country. The poor are starving 😭 #lowerfoodprices

lillian kawira: I don’t care who occupies state House this year. I am concerned that 1,000 shillings can’t buy basic things for my family to last two days #lowerfoodprices

Hon. Kimaningunjiri: Regardless of who seats at the helm of the country leadership, food as a basic necessity should remain affordable in a country with a conducive environment for farming. Lower Taxes for raw materials/farm inputs, CBOs, Saccos, flexible trade agreements, industries. #lowerfoodprices

Petrah Mokeira: Schools are closing soon and kids are coming home for almost 7 weeks. It’s quite a challenge providing for the family with these overrated food prices #lowerfoodprices