Consumers and traders in Murang’a county are facing a severe shortage of vegetables, particularly cabbage, following heavy rains in March that caused significant damage to crops like carrots, potatoes, cabbage, kale, and spinach due to waterlogging. This agricultural impact has led to reduced harvests and subsequently increased vegetable prices.
Cabbage, a staple vegetable known for its affordability, has seen its price rise sharply from Sh50 to Sh200 for a medium-sized piece. At Kenol’s Wairia market, a visit revealed that many cabbage sellers have shifted to other businesses, while consumers have sought alternative vegetables due to the scarcity.
Samuel Maina, a trader at the market, explained that he now sources cabbages from Eldoret due to local shortages. However, sales have declined notably as consumers grapple with the high cost of living and explore more economically viable alternatives.
“Currently the gate price for a medium sized cabbage is Sh70 to Sh80 which I’m now selling at Sh140. Previously, the same cabbage would go for Sh30 gate price and I would sell it at between Sh50 and Sh70,” he said.
“The commodity is also slow moving as I would sell up to 2,000 pieces a week and would make two trips to source for it but now I’m making only one trip in a week,” he added.
Consumers said with the price hike, changes in household menus were necessary.
Sharon Waithera, a mother of three, said the high price of vegetables forced her family to consider other alternatives to accompany the staple meal, ugali.
“A kilogramme of spinach is retailing at Sh120 while that of kales commonly known as sukuma wiki is retailing at Sh100. Traditional vegetables are not available anymore, while one medium sized tomato is going for Sh10,” Waithera said.
Previously, a kilogram of spinach and kale in the same market retailed at Sh60 and Sh40 respectively.
“We have opted to use cereals and sometimes even take tea and ugali,” she added.
The scarcity highlights the need to study market trends in relation to climate change, to avoid the extremes of glut and shortage that often result from shifting weather patterns and other phenomena.
