A trader at Marikiti market unpacks onions from a lorry /FILE
Onions, a staple in Kenyan kitchens, are now costing consumers far more than usual. In recent weeks, the price at the farm gate and in markets has jumped sharply, leaving shoppers and farmers feeling the pinch.
At the farm gate, prices have risen from around Sh80 to Sh100 per kilo, especially as Tanzanian onions flood the local market.
In retail outlets, onions now sell for between Sh120 and Sh150 per kilo, a steep rise from Sh60–Sh80 just two months ago.
A trader at Wakulima market in Nairobi told the Star that they are getting most of their onions from Tanzania. He said that while farmers are selling at about Sh65 per kilo, once transport and other costs are added, the onions reach Nairobi at Sh100 to Sh120 per kilo.
He said consumers prefer imported onions because they are well‐dried and can be stored for close to six months without rotting. This is unlike local onions from Kieni or Naivasha, which tend to have higher moisture content and spoil faster.
“Quality is now a central concern in purchase decisions,” the trader said.
According to the Central Bank of Kenya’s agriculture sector surveys, prices of many vegetable items, including onions, have continued to increase in early 2025 compared to late 2024.
Farm‐gate onion prices have risen to a high of Sh140 per kg in some areas for certain varieties due to supply constraints.
Douglas Wang’ombe, a farmer from Kieni West in Nyeri county, said local farmers dread the arrival of Tanzanian onions.
“When they enter in large volumes, prices can collapse to as low as Sh15 per kilo, which is unsustainable given high production costs.”
He added that the cost of onion seeds per acre runs between Sh30,000 and Sh40,000 (depending on the variety), excluding labour, fertiliser and transport, among others.
In Ruai market, for example, red onions are now selling at Sh120 per kilo, up by Sh60–Sh80 compared to four months ago.
George Njoroge, a trader at Ruai market, said onions from local sources like Isiolo and Nyeri are increasingly expensive.
In some cases, local onions are selling at Sh80 at farm gate, but once logistics are factored in, the trader pays about Sh95-Sh100 per kilo in Nairobi. Onions from Kieni are cheaper but less preferred because they tend to sprout early, reducing shelf life.
Anne Njeri, another trader in Ruai, said that previously she bought local onions at Sh30 per kilo, but now farmers are getting between Sh80 and Sh110 per kilo. She said the reduction of Tanzanian imports could give Kenyan farmers a chance to grow more and earn better margins.
Samuel Kariuki, a trader from Makuyu market in Murang’a, said that in recent weeks, the volume of local produce entering markets has dropped, driven by weather issues, and that heavy rains earlier in the season caused rotting in the fields.
“Many harvested onions absorbed too much moisture and spoiled because drying was difficult.”
He added that the April–May rains hit just as many onions were mature, leading to widespread post‐harvest damage.
