Traders selling charcoal in Nakuru have started complaining over the prices of charcoal that continue skyrocketing saying that the price will affect their businesses.
Speaking to this writer this Sunday in Free area, the traders said that if the prices of charcoal will continue going up many people will turn to stoves as kerosene is cheaper compared to the current price of charcoal. They said that the price has been affected by the ongoing heavy rains which has contributed to the low supply of charcoal due to impassable roads and hard times for charcoal burners.
Alfred Munala, a charcoal dealer in free area said that many people have started turning to stoves as kerosene is cheaper compared to the charcoal. Munala said that a sack of charcoal which used to go for Kshs. 800 is now trading at Kshs. 1, 250 and the price is still expected to go up by the end of the month.
Munala said that the high price has been attributed by the low supply of charcoal to ongoing rains that has made the roads to charcoal burning areas impassable.