A spot check by KNA at the open air market in Mumias and Shibale towns indicated a rise in the price of tomatoes which is selling at Sh10, 000 to Sh12000 per box.
Most of the traders are selling the tomatoes at a retail price of Sh10 apiece for the bigger sized ones and three small ones at Sh20.
They attribute the rise in the price to high demand and that the heavy rains had affected production of the crop which they source from Mt. Elgon sub-county.
The price of fresh cabbages has gone up to Sh50 from Sh30 one week ago. The cabbages are however in plenty of supply at the markets.
Traders however indicate that business in the town has generally gone down following the collapse of Mumias Sugar Factory where most of the buyers stayed.
“At this time of the year I would have sold double what I have done now,” said Jane Auma who has a vegetable stall at Shibale market which is near the factory.
A two kilogram measure tin of dry maize is selling at Sh85, beans Sh200, green grams Sh250 while the same measure of ground nuts is selling at Sh350.
Leading supermarkets in town have attracted many buyers. An on the spot check by KNA found that most of the supermarkets have filled their shelves to the brim as the demand for consumer goods has gone up.
Dealers in clothes have also recorded high sales.
By Catherine Nyongesa
