Monthly inflation rate in Kenya 2020-2022

Kenya's inflation rate increased to 9.5 percent in November 2022. The indicator measure price variations in goods and services compared to the same month one year earlier. In April 2022, inflation in Kenya stood at 6.5 percent. The current country’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by roughly 0.8 percent compared to the previous month, mainly due to higher prices in food and transport. For 2022, projections indicated annual average inflation at five percent in Kenya, above the rate projected in other African countries, such as South Africa and Tanzania.

Inflation accelerated by food prices

Kenyans feel the inflation effects mostly on groceries since food and non-alcoholic beverages account for roughly one-third of the household expenditure. As of May 2022, the category recorded a surge in prices of 12.4 percent. Furthermore, a deep look into food prices variations in Kenya reveals that vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas, and pulses were 20 percent more expensive in 2020, compared to 2019. Fruits and nuts recorded an inflation rate of 18.2 percent in the same period.

Impacts on food security

Fluctuating food prices in Kenya also depend on the varying domestic agricultural output. Particularly, when weather conditions are unfavorable, crop outputs are affected and, consequently, food prices increase - a scenario contributing to the persistence of food insecurity. For instance, around eight million people lacked sufficient food for consumption in Kenya as of November 2021.