The festive season may be over, but for many Kenyans, January has arrived with a harsh financial reality. Beyond school fees and lingering holiday debts, households are now grappling with a sharp rise in the cost of basic food items.
According to a report by NTV Kenya, families in major trading centres such as Kakamega and Kisumu are feeling the pinch most acutely. Even cabbage — a staple on many Kenyan dinner tables — has become increasingly unaffordable for ordinary consumers.
A Sudden Shortage
At Masingo Market in Kakamega, the once-abundant displays of green vegetables have noticeably thinned. Traders say cabbage supplies began declining almost immediately after the Christmas and New Year celebrations, turning what was once a cheap and readily available vegetable into a scarce commodity.
“Before the festive season, cabbage was in plenty. But as soon as the celebrations began, we started experiencing shortages,” one trader explained.
Vendors attribute the shortage largely to the onset of the dry season, locally known as kiangazi. Reduced rainfall has affected local production, leaving markets dependent on limited supplies.
Prices Triple in a Matter of Weeks
The impact on prices has been dramatic. Before the festive period, a large head of cabbage sold for between KSh 40 and KSh 50. Today, the same cabbage is retailing for up to KSh 150 — a nearly threefold increase in just a few weeks.
This sharp rise has placed both households and small businesses under immense pressure. Vegetable vendors and small hotel operators in Kakamega and Kisumu say they are struggling to stay afloat as the cost of raw materials rises while customers’ purchasing power continues to shrink.
Businesses on the Brink
The hospitality sector has been hit particularly hard. Local eateries that depend on cabbage as a key accompaniment to ugali are finding it increasingly difficult to maintain profit margins.
Some traders warn that if prices remain high, they may be forced to sell cabbage in small, pre-cut portions to make it affordable for customers.
“We are getting to a point where cabbage will have to be sold in pieces,” one consumer said. “It’s hard to justify spending KSh 150 on cabbage when maize flour costs the same.”
There are also reports that some of the cabbages currently available in local markets are being imported from Uganda, a move that further drives up prices due to transport and middlemen costs.
Few Alternatives in Sight
For consumers hoping to switch to other vegetables, options are limited. Sukuma wiki (kale), a common substitute, is also becoming scarce and increasingly expensive. In some areas, supplies are now being transported from as far as Molo, hundreds of kilometres away.
With the dry season showing no immediate signs of easing, many Kenyans fear that the strain on household budgets may persist well into the new year.
