Factors making food prices to rise in Mwingi

As Kitui county residents do dry season planting in anticipation of October -November-December rains, the month of October had no rains.

Food prices have shot up by on average about 17 per cent in less than two months. A cereals seller told MWINGI TIMES that a kilo of beans in Tseikuru town costs KSh140. This was going for KSh120 in August 2022.  Bean prices increased between August and October by KSh20.

Similar amount of maize was retailing at KSh65.  Maize price remained a bit stable but still out of reach of ordinary citizens.

The prices of livestock have fallen since most goats, donkeys and sheep have no pasture to feed on. A midsized goat that cost KSh6000 in May now retails at half the price.

Due to diminishing pastures, most residents have embarked on using free range grazing which sometimes led to the herds being stolen by thieves.

A man who had lost his goats on Wednesday told MWINGI TIMES that he was worried that they may fall on the hands of wayward residents leading to them being lost.

At a local canteen in Kalimbui village, Tseikuru district, a lady revealed to a friend that she was feeling feeble due to having skipped meals in the recent past as drought situation worsens affecting household shopping budget.

The onset of rains a few days ago may have ignited hope of better days to come but still, residents fear that the crops they had planted will not germinate days of dry spell drag on longer.

STORY By MUSYOKA NGUI