Food Items Whose Prices Will Increase - CBK Report

Kenyans could pay more for some food items in the next one month, with potatoes, peas, green grams and rice among the commodities expected to record higher prices.

The expectation is based on the Central Bank of Kenya’s (CBK) July 2026 Agriculture Sector Survey, which gathered views from 389 respondents including farmers, retailers and wholesalers across selected agricultural markets and farms.

Potatoes recorded the strongest expectation for a price increase, followed by rice, peas and green grams.

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Currently, a 1kg bag of potatoes retails at Ksh113.46  according to KNBS.

A 2kg packet of rice retails at between Ksh345 and Ksh999 depending on the brand and supermarket.

Meanwhile a 1kg packet of  greengram retails at Ksh169 to Ksh275 depending on the supermarket, while 1kg packet of peas retails at Ksh210 to Ksh750 depending on the brand.

The expected price increases are mainly linked to weather conditions, transport costs and food availability.

Weather was identified by most respondents as a key factor influencing food prices. Concerns over inadequate rainfall in some food-producing regions could affect agricultural output and reduce the supply of produce reaching markets. 

This is particularly significant because 78% of farmers surveyed said they mainly depend on rain fed agriculture, leaving production vulnerable to changes in rainfall. 

Transport costs were also highlighted as a major factor. Higher costs of moving produce from farms to markets can increase the final price consumers pay, particularly for fresh produce that requires regular transportation.

Other factors in the survey include product availability, the distance to markets, labour costs and agricultural input prices, all of which can affect the cost of producing and distributing food.

The survey also highlighted concerns over global fuel and energy prices. Respondents linked the US-Israel-Iran conflict to higher global oil prices and potential supply chain disruptions, which could further increase transportation and other costs across the agricultural sector.

For families, the expected price increases could put additional pressure on grocery budgets. This means families may need to compare prices across retailers and adjust their shopping choices as market conditions change throughout August.

On the other hand, the prices of some food items, particularly vegetables, are expected to decline due to increased supply.

Among the items expected to become cheaper are onions, tomatoes, carrots, maize and beans.

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