Only rich Kenyans can afford tomatoes now as prices soar to Sh25 per fruit
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Fresh tomatoes on display at a stall in Jubilee Market, Kisumu, on April 24, 2026. Traders have reported reduced supply following ongoing rains that have disrupted deliveries.
Just how many Kenyans can afford tomatoes nowadays? The price of tomatoes, an everyday ingredient in many households, has gone up. A spot check by Nation Lifestyle at Nairobi’s major markets and estates shows that retail prices have surged to as much as Sh25 per fruit, driven by soaring input costs and export demand that is diverting supply to neighbouring countries.
Traders say wholesale crate prices have more than doubled in recent months, squeezing margins and forcing households to ration or turn to rejects, which were previously discarded in markets such as Wakulima and Kawangware.
