Heavy rains currently ongoing in Nakuru County have adversely affected the supply of tomatoes, leading to a 90 percent price hike.
A crate of tomatoes which was selling at Sh4,500 two weeks ago is retailing at Sh7,500 at the Nakuru open air market.
A tomato trader, Jane Wanjira, said the tomatoes previously supplied from neighbouring areas such as Subukia and Rumuruti are now in short supply following the heavy rains. The rains have affected the quality of tomatoes and traders are being forced to import the commodity from the Kenya-Tanzania border.
Wanjira lamented that the high cost of transportation and the commodity being perishable are adversely affecting profit margins. This has forced the traders to sell one tomato at Sh10 to meet the cost.
The mother of three, who has been in this trade for more than 18 years, however explained that she cannot quit the business. Mama Sophie, as she is normally called by her colleagues, said the business has assisted her educate her children, put up a shelter and feed them.
A customer who came shopping for the tomatoes asked the government to intervene and save the poor from exploitation by the traders. She said that the high prices for basic commodities favoured only the rich.
The price hikes also come after the discovery of a pest that may decimate tomato production in the country. The green leaf minor has been detected in many tomato-growing parts of the country.