Milk, Green Peas and Cabbage Face Fresh Price Pressure as Food Costs Rise

Kenyan households could face higher costs for everyday foods, including fresh packaged milk, green peas and cabbage, as rising food prices continue to put pressure on family budgets.

A September 2026 survey by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) found growing expectations of further price increases across several food items.

The survey involved 466 farmers, wholesalers and retailers. It examined price trends and the factors affecting food supplies and costs in the country.

Milk and Vegetables Among Items Facing Price Pressure

Fresh packaged milk was among the products facing strong upward price pressure. In the survey, 74 per cent of respondents expected its price to increase in the following month.

Garden peas and cabbage also featured prominently. The share of respondents expecting garden pea prices to rise increased from 29 per cent in August to 68 per cent in September.

For cabbage, the figure rose from 20 per cent to 58 per cent over the same period. These figures reflect market expectations, rather than a guarantee that prices will rise by a specific amount.

The CBK survey identified weather conditions, transport expenses and agricultural input costs as major factors affecting food prices.

About 97 per cent of respondents cited weather conditions, while 92 per cent pointed to transport costs. Another 80 per cent identified the cost of farm inputs as a factor influencing prices.

Prolonged dry weather can affect pasture and food production, while higher fuel and transport costs can make it more expensive to move goods from farms to markets. These pressures can eventually reach consumers.

The warning comes as official statistics show that food and non-alcoholic beverage prices rose by 9.5 per cent in the year to September 2026.

The overall annual inflation rate stood at 6.8 per cent during the same month, according to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics.

For families already working with tight budgets, further increases could mean spending more on groceries or adjusting what they buy.

Although the survey does not mean Kenyans will stop buying milk, peas or cabbage, it highlights the growing pressure on the cost of everyday meals.

Households will be watching market prices closely as they try to stretch their income and keep basic foods on the table.

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