Kenya citizens stage online protest against Food inflation

Angry Kenyans have been taking to social media to protest about the high cost of living in the country driven by a spike in the cost of basic commodities including food, electricity, and fuel. Using the hashtag #lowerfoodprices, Kenyans have criticized the government for failing to stem the rise in the prices of everyday items which they say has made life unbearable. In January the overall inflation rate in the country fell slightly for the second straight month, to 5%. but the prices of basic food commodities like maize flour and wheat flour, potatoes, vegetables, and fruits continued rising which may disproportionately impact low- and middle-income households.

Food inflation for the month of January stood at 9%, meaning many Kenyans struggled to put food on the table. The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) says for poorer households, where food accounts for about 36% of total spending, the burden is even higher. Many people shared their shopping lists, detailing how prices of basic food items like milk, bread, sugar, and maize flour had spiked sharply in recent months, making it difficult for them to afford three meals a day.