Jaza Jaza matatu slows down rise in cost of living
Return of full capacity buses and matatus has reduced transport Index by 0.32 per cent due to decreases in bus fares of upcountry and city public service vehicles.
Matatu fares from Meru to Nairobi was down to Kes800 from Kes1000 between July and August while a trip from Bomas to Nyayo stadium came down from Kes60 to Kes50.
Latest data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) showed that this helped ease inflation growth which still went up 6.57 per cent in August from 6.55 per cent in July.
KNBS said over the last one month, housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels’ index increased by 0.32 per due to a jump in the prices of cooking fuel and house rent in spite of the slight decrease in the price of electricity.
Despite the prices being lower month on month inflation compared to similar period last year saw an increase in the prices of most goods.
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Fares for similar locations are the same as last year August while Kenyans are spending Kes100 more on food items, Kes70 more on transport and Kes50 more on hosing bills.
Food and non-alcoholic beverages inflation rose highest by 10.67 per cent between August 2020 and August 2021.
Transport prices rose 7.93 per cent and housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels rose 5.07 per cent in the intervening period.
The price of cabbages has risen by 30 per cent to retail at Kes47.6 a kilogram over the last one year from Kes36.5 while spinach is up 22 per cent to Kes66 from Kes64.
Sukuma wiki is up 16 per cent to Kes56.4 from Kes48.4 and potatoes are up 13 per cent to Kes70.4 from Kes62.2.
House rent is up 3 per cent to Kes3728 from Kes3610 for a single room but the cost of electricity especially for small users has gone up12 per cent to Sh893 per 50 kilowatts.
Large users are paying Kes4977 for 200 kilowatt but the rise is an 8 per cent jump from Kes4576.
