According to the Central Bank of Kenya, Tanzania is partly to blame for the unprecedented spike in onion prices in the country. According to the CBK, onions, both bulbs and leeks, recorded the highest year-on-year price increase, with the highest being a 22.2 per cent rise as of July 2023.
The CBK noted that reduced imports from Tanzania marked the main challenge regarding the supply of onions. As a result, the government increased the price of Tanzania onions which are drier, have a longer shelf life and are a favorite among Kenyan consumers. The situation is expected to worsen by the end of August, with the vital household vegetable recording a 40 per cent increase in price alongside other basic food commodities such as eggs (60 per cent) and sugar (55 per cent).
Source: kenyans.co.ke