Hiked chicken, mbuzi prices mean Kenyans won't enjoy usual Christmas

It is Christmas time and the mood is a festive one across the country as people throw parties, throng to churches for prayers and entertainment joints to make merry.

As has been the tradition, all manner of animals like cows, goats, sheep and chicken will be slaughtered as families and friends indulge in feasting.

However, with the current tough economic times coupled with runaway inflation and ever-increasing food prices, the festive season might not be so jolly for many.

Throughout the year, cries of hopelessness have been loud from all corners of the country where families are struggling to put food on the table.

From Kakamega, Kisumu, Eldoret all the way to Nakuru, Nyeri, Nairobi down to Mombasa, the situation is the same - there is little to spent on Christmas. For instance, fewer chicken will be slaughtered in Western region where the bird commonly known as ‘Ingokho’ is a delicacy.

In most homesteads there is an average of between three and five chicken, and with the exodus of city dwellers back to their rural homes to celebrate Christmas, it means there will not be enough chicken to meet the demand.

Some may be forced to forego meat or slaughter a goat but not a sheep, which is only slaughtered when a calamity befalls the community.

Faith Amimo, who is a chicken farmer says that a mature cockerel (jogoo) in the market, now goes for between Sh1,600 and Sh2,000. Apart from linking the increase to the festive season, Amimo says the hike in animal feeds has contributed to the high chicken prices.

“The cost of buying feeds is what makes this business out of the reach. The cost of feeds is very expensive making Kenyan poultry farmers hike the price in order to recover money he or she invested in the project,” say Amimo.

In local eateries in Kakamega town, a quarter chicken was being sold for between Sh200 and Sh350 but due to the festive season, the menu costs between Sh400 and Sh550.

In big hotels, a full chicken initially sold at between Sh1,200 and Sh1,500 is now ranges from Sh2,000 to Sh2,500 while the order for broilers is Sh1,700.

A spot check by The Nairobian at Lubao market established that a mature goat is being sold at between Sh6, 500 and Sh7, 500. Before the festive season, it was going at Sh4,500 and Sh5,000.

“During festivities, farmers and traders normally want to make a kill by hiking the prices of their animals. In most cases, you will find them doubling it,” says Humphrey Buradi, The Water Project regional director.

He adds: “At Luanda market, it’s where the prices are slightly good. A goat is being sold at Sh6,500. I had to travel all the way from Kakamega to buy them and slaughter them for my staff for the end-year party.”

In Nyeri, food enthusiasts are expressing their dismay as the prices of delicacies such as chicken (kuku choma), lamb (kondoo), and goat meat (mbuzi choma) have doubled.

This surge has caused a shift in consumer preferences, with many individuals opting for beef due to the exorbitant prices of goat meat.

Butchery and hotel owners in Nyeri confirmed that beef has become the go-to choice for meat lovers in light of the steep rise in goat meat prices. 

According to Muriithi Kungu Maitu, the price hike during the festive season is unprecedented with customers preferring to buy beef since it is cheap compared to goat and chicken meat.

“Customers are finding it increasingly difficult to afford their favourite delicacies. As a result, we have noticed a significant increase in beef sales as people search for affordable alternatives. At the moment we are selling one kilogramme of goat meat for Sh850, one kilogramme of beef at Sh600 while a kilo of chicken costs Sh500,” explains the trader.

Kiragu Mbogo, a meat vendor at the AP canteen, expressed his disappointment at the slow pace of business activities adding that customers prefer beef. “I think the high cost of living has affected everyone, we have very few customers,” he states.

Residents of the lakeside city of Kisumu and its environs are staring at an expensive Christmas as food prices soar amid a shortage of vegetables.

Across the border

For a region that imports almost everything including eggs from Uganda, fish from China and vegetables from nearby counties, residents claim prices have hit the roof.

From Siaya to Kisumu through Homa Bay to Migori, more than 60 per cent of pineapples, bananas and watermelon sold in the streets and markets across Nyanza are from Uganda. 

Uganda is bringing loads of bananas and pineapples to Kisumu through the Busia border while Tanzania is trucking in tonnes of watermelon into Migori and neighbouring towns through the Isebania border.

A spot check by The Nairobian across markets as well as interviews with some of the residents established that the prices have increased for most goods.

Just before the festive mood set in, most entertainment joints sold half a kilo of nyama choma for between Sh250 and Sh300. The amount has now shot up to between Sh350 and Sh500.

This means that those who would be hoping to please their taste buds with nyama choma will have to dig deeper into their pockets.

John Kamau, a hotelier who sells nyama choma, attributes the rise in prices to the increase in prices of goats.

“It is festive season and goats are being sold between Sh7,000 and Sh8,000. Other months, the prices range between Sh4500 and Sh6, 000 so we cannot sell at the same price,” he says.

According to Winnie Atieno, a waitress in one of the popular pubs known the ‘best’ nyama choma, prices will reduce once the festive season is over. “Because almost every restaurant does the same (increase prices), we tend to do the same for uniformity,” she explains.

However, for George Ochieng a manager at another entertainment joint, their prices will not change.” Since our customers are loyalists, we don’t have to increase our prices,” says Ochieng.

Fredrick Omollo, a father of five, says he may be forced to buy fish from China. “What is the point of buying a small fish at Sh500 when you can get a cheaper one for Sh200,” he reasoned.

In Nakuru meat prices remain largely unchanged. Butchery owners have complained that unlike 2022, the number of customers has gone down, making it difficult to increase the prices.

Samwel Kanja, a butchery owner in Nakuru West sub-county, says residents prefer goat meat to chicken and beef, which is not attracting many customers.

According to the trader, they have been unable to goat meat from Sh800 to about Sh1,000 since there are no customers.

Dorcas Njoki, a poultry farmer at a village in Rongai,  says Nakuru residents prefer eating kuku kienyeji than broilers. The average price of kuku kienyeji is Sh1,200 while a broiler costs Sh500.

Eunice Akinyi, another poultry farmer in Gilgil sub-county, laments that her birds have failed to attract high prices. “The prices have remained the same. Last year I sold my chicken at Sh700 and above but this year the market is unfavourable,” she says.

[Nathan Ochunge, Amos Kiarie, Sharon Owino and Daniel Chege]