Kenyans were temporarily distracted from some of the country’s problems by the August polls.
Food insecurity ranks first among these problems. Food costs in the nation are greater than they have ever been in 2022. Maize is one of the commodities that has witnessed significant price hikes. In a year, the price of this basic meal has more than doubled.
Food price rise, despite being the product of a “perfect storm,” will be a top priority for the incoming government, which has committed to finding a long-term solution.
The present food inflation is the consequence of many things. First, the COVID-19 pandemic impacted both food production and production inputs. In response to supply chain issues, global input costs began to climb in the fourth quarter of 2021.
Second, Kenya is enduring one of the worst droughts in the country’s history. The La Nia weather phenomena have impacted the country’s central, eastern, and northern areas, putting over 4.3 million Kenyans in need of food aid as of August 2022.
Third, the Russian conflict in Ukraine impacted not just food availability, but also crucial inputs such as fertilizer.
These shocks happened all at once. However, long-standing challenges in Kenya must be addressed if the nation is to become self-sufficient in basics such as maize.
