Kenyans Resort To Using Sukari Nguru As Kilo Of Sugar Surpasses KSh 250 Mark

• The implementation of the Finance Act 2023 has increased the cost of living as the costs of basic commodities have shot up
• President William Ruto's administration introduced an excise duty of KSh 5 per kilogramme of imported sugar to promote local manufacturing
• With a kilo of sugar retailing at between KSh 230 and KSh 260, depending on the brand, low-income families have resorted to alternatives

The high cost of sugar has seen Kenyans resort to cheaper alternatives as sweeteners.

Low-income families have turned to jaggery, commonly referred to as sukari nguru to sweeten their tea.

Mary Nyaboke, a resident of Pipeline in Nairobi, revealed she breaks jaggery into small pieces and adds them to porridge since she cannot afford to buy sugar.

"I have tried giving my children porridge without sugar, but they wouldn’t touch it. So, I use sukari nguru," Nyaboke told Citizen Digital.

Sugar prices to increase again

Kenyans are staring at a further increase in sugar prices after the government introduced excise duty on imports and temporarily shut down local production.

The introduction of the excise duty followed the implementation of the Finance Act 2023 after the court lifted stay orders on Friday, July 28.

President William Ruto's administration introduced an excise duty of KSh 5 per kilogramme of imported sugar to promote local manufacturing.

Why local sugar millers suspended operations

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Authority issued directives to local sugar millers to suspend operations until November 2023.

The move aimed at allowing sugarcane planted in the Western part of Kenya to mature took effect from Friday, July 14.

A spot check by TUKO.co.ke showed a 2kg packet of sugar retailed between KSh 450 to KSh 500 across supermarkets and small retail shops.

A kilo pack of sugar goes between KSh 235 to KSh 260, and this is expected to rise further due to limited supply to satisfy the over 180,000 tonnes of sugar demand in the country.

Kenya's inflation drops

The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) reported a significant drop in the inflation rate from 7.8% reported in June 2023 to 7.3% in July 2023.

Prices of most food products, including potatoes, tomatoes, cowpeas and cabbages, declined by 12.2%, 10.1%, 8.3 and 8.1%, respectively, in July 2023.

A spot check by TUKO.co.ke in open-air markets showed the price of a bucket of potatoes dropped from a high of KSh 700 to an average KSh 40.