Sugar prices have shot up in the last few days by as much as Ksh40 per kilogramme, further straining Kenyan consumers already struggling with the high cost of living.
A cost analysis since the beginning of the year shows an even big price escalation. The two-kilogramme sugar packet is trading at a high of Ksh380 up from Sh290 in January this year
The government has moved in to increase sugar imports in the next three weeks to tame the current high prices.
The country usually imports 8,000 tonnes to 15,000 tonnes of sugar monthly but has increased the volumes to 100,000 tonnes to be brought in within the next two and a half months.
Business Daily reports the imports will come from the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) states, with the initial consignment coming in from Swaziland and Zimbabwe, according to the Sugar Directorate.
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The sugar will land in the country at Ksh5,300 per 50kg bag compared with Ksh5,500 (average) for the same quantity of local sugar produce.
“We have already placed our orders for imports from the Comesa bloc and we have issued the permits to traders,” says Sugar Directorate’s head Solomon Odera.
Kenya does not produce enough sugar and it relies on imports to meet the growing demand. The country is allowed to import 300,000 every year from regional states.
Kenya is projecting a shortage of 1.9 million tonnes of cane by the end of this financial year, which will take a toll on the supply of the sweetener in the market.
The directorate has blamed the shortage on drought that affected sugar growing zones following a prolonged dry spell in the country.
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