High food prices force Kenyans to shop in Uganda, Tanzania

KENYANS at the border of Uganda and Tanzania are  now crossing over to buy basic food commodities such as maize, milk and sugar.

According to Kenyan media reports, this is due to the biting shortage of the commodities in most Kenyan towns. Majority of residents near Busia and Malaba borders are crossing to the neighbouring countries to shop as it is slightly cheaper there.

In Uganda, Weekend Business established that most shops are retailing a 2kg packet of maize at Sh140 compared to Kenyan supermarkets selling the same at Sh160.

Consequently, Kenyans have opted to buy maize from grain stores in Uganda, located a few kilometres from the border.

A kilo of sugar is sold at Sh150 while supermarkets in Busia sell the commodity at Sh200. Stephen Obala of Busia Traders Association said residents had no alternative but to cross over to Uganda. John Oduor is one of those buying maize from Uganda.

"I just walk to the market in Uganda to buy maize because the price is lower," he said.

In Taita Taveta County, unscrupulous traders have been hoarding basic commodities. Local traders said due to this, the county is now facing an acute shortage of the basic food
products.

Interviews with traders in Voi, Mwatate, Wundanyi and Taveta border town indicate some unscrupulous traders from both Kenya and Tanzania might be hoarding the foodstuff.

Residents and traders in Taveta town situated along the Kenya­Tanzania border said they have been buying sugar from the neighbouring country in the recent past but it had ran out of stock. 

"We have been buying a kilogramme of sugar from Tanzania for between Sh120 and Sh130 but the commodity has run out of stock," said Barnaba Maimbo, a Taveta town resident.

"Tanzania has started importing sugar hence occasioning the shortage," said another

resident. Traders interviewed said they have been secretly importing food supplies cheaply from Tanzania and selling at higher prices in the local market.

A Voi trader disclosed that a 50kg bag sugar from Tanzania was locally trading at Sh8,400. She has been buying the bag from Tanzania for Sh6,300.
@ippmedia