Eastleigh residents feel the pinch as food prices climb during Ramadan
A 20-litre container of vegetable cooking oil is currently priced at Sh4,850, while a 25-kilogramme sack of sugar is selling for between Sh3,600 and Sh3,900.
Food prices in Eastleigh have increased slightly during the first week of Ramadan, with the most significant rise seen in the price of dates. The increase has affected residents, with some believing that sellers are taking advantage of the high demand during the fasting period.
Dates, which are traditionally used to break the fast at sunset, have been the most affected. Before Ramadan, a 10-kilogramme package of dates was selling for Sh2,350, but in the first week of the holy month, the price rose to between Sh2,500 and Sh2,600 in major wholesale shops.
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Other essential foodstuffs, including wheat flour and rice, have also experienced a slight price increase. A 24-kilogramme sack of wheat flour, which was around Sh1,900 before Ramadan, is now being sold for between Sh2,100 and Sh2,300 in different wholesalers.
A 20-litre container of vegetable cooking oil is currently priced at Sh4,850, while a 25-kilogramme sack of sugar is selling for between Sh3,600 and Sh3,900.
The increase in prices has been linked to the high demand for foodstuffs during Ramadan. Many Muslims purchase large quantities of food to donate to those in need, as charity is an essential part of the month.
The rise in demand has put pressure on the market, leading to higher prices for commonly used products.
Abdisalam Ahmed, a food wholesaler on Jam Street, noted that low-income families are the most affected by the price increase. He explained that a rise of Sh200 to Sh300 makes a significant difference for families that purchase food in small quantities.
"A two-hundred or three-hundred shilling increase is very hard for these families, but the demand is high now, which is pushing the prices," he said.
While some people can afford to buy food at the increased prices, others have been forced to adjust their purchases based on what they can afford.
Osman Ismail, who sells clothes by the roadside in the evenings, noted that the price increase is not only affecting Eastleigh but also other regions. He said that his family in Wajir has also been complaining about rising food costs.
"The money I used to send them is not enough now because the increase in food prices has also affected them," he said.
Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, is observed by Muslims through fasting from dawn to dusk and engaging in prayers. During this period, the demand for foodstuffs, especially staple foods and essential cooking items, tends to rise as families prepare meals for iftar, the evening meal that breaks the fast.
With several weeks remaining in Ramadan, it is unclear whether prices will stabilise or continue to rise.
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