The price increment comes at a time when residents are coming to terms with high cost of maize flour.
The Standard has learned that a bunch of kales (sukuma wiki) that cost Sh20 in November last year, now costs Sh40.
A cabbage that went for Sh10 is now retailing at Sh25.
Mr David Otieno who sells cabbages at Oile market, said the trend has been occasioned by the prolonged drought.
“Buyers are complaining of the increased price and sales have gone down. It takes more than three days to clear a pick-up of cabbages,” said Otieno.
He said the supply of cabbages from Londiani and Molo in Rift Valley has reduced.
At Jumuia market, Ms Alice Otieno, a trader said a sack of kales that used to cost between Sh700 to Sh800 before the end of November last year now goes for between Sh2,000 to Sh2,200.
Less stock
“The amount of kales we receive has reduced drastically, with the price skyrocketing,” she said.
Mrs Mary Anyango, a Kisumu resident said given the rising cost of living, many families are going hungry.
“The cost of living has gone up by more than 100 per cent, and affording three meals a day is impossible,” said Anyango.
Very few sellers stocked traditional vegetables like amaranth, green leaves from beans, and the nightshade.
The rising cost of vegetables has also affected the price of beans.
Ms Lilian Otieno, who gets beans from Busia said a kilo of rose cocoa that cost Sh120 last year costs Sh150.
“The price is likely to rise any time, if the current situation goes unabated,” she said.
Trouble for the country’s food supply first begun early last year when post-election violence broke out after the December 2007 polls. The crisis severely disrupted agricultural activities in most parts, including the Rift Valley Kenya’s bread basket.
Rising food prices have led to a higher annual inflation rate, which stood at 29.4 per cent in November, up from 28.4 per cent in October, and slightly lower from a high of 31.5 percent in May.
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