Advertisement
Business
FAO report explains why healthy food remains so expensive for many Kenyans today
Saturday 25th July, 2026 11:35 PM|By Aloys Michael
For many Kenyan families, buying maize flour for ugali is manageable, but adding eggs, milk, fish, fruits and vegetables to the shopping basket often doubles the grocery bill. A new report by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) explains why healthy food remains significantly more expensive than calorie-rich staple foods
The report, The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2026, published jointly by the FAO, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), UNICEF, World Food Programme (WFP) and the World Health Organisation (WHO), concludes that healthy diets remain economically out of reach for large segments of the global population, despite improvements in food security since the COVID-19 pandemic
“Healthy diets are essential to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2, but remain economically out of reach for large segments of the global population,” the report says
The findings help answer one of the most common questions Kenyan consumers ask: Why is healthy food so expensive in Kenya?
Why healthy food prices in Kenya remain high
According to the FAO report, the highest cost of eating healthily is not staple foods such as maize, rice or wheat. Instead, the most nutritious foods, including eggs, milk, meat, fish, fruits and vegetables, account for almost 70 per cent of the total cost of a healthy diet, while starchy staples contribute only a small fraction of the overall cost despite providing about half of daily calorie requirements
This explains why many households can afford foods that fill the stomach but struggle to buy enough nutrient-rich foods needed for a balanced diet
For families searching online about the cost of healthy eating in Kenya, the report suggests that the challenge is structural rather than simply a result of temporary price increases
Consumers often assume farmers receive most of the money paid for fresh produce. However, the FAO report says the majority of food costs are added after products leave the farm
Processing, transportation, storage, wholesale distribution and retail account for around 70 to 75 per cent of the final price consumers pay for many foods
Fresh fruits and vegetables are particularly affected because they spoil quickly and require efficient roads, refrigerated transport and cold storage before reaching supermarkets and local markets
This helps explain why vegetables cost more in Kenya, especially during dry seasons or when transport costs rise
Food inflation is only part of the problem
Although food inflation in Kenya often attracts headlines, the FAO says higher prices are only one part of a broader challenge
The report identifies poor transport infrastructure, inefficient logistics, limited cold-chain systems, high production costs and weak market integration as major factors pushing up the price of healthy foods
It says investments in agricultural research, better rural roads, improved transport networks, lower input costs and stronger regional trade can make nutritious foods more affordable over time
“Higher agricultural productivity, sustained public investment in agricultural research and development, efficient logistics and transport, effective trade integration, and lower input costs are each associated with a lower cost of a healthy diet,” the report says
Is healthy eating only for wealthy households?
The report does not suggest that healthy eating should be reserved for wealthier families. Instead, it argues that governments can reduce costs by making nutritious foods easier and cheaper to produce, transport and sell
It also notes that using locally available, lower-cost foods can substantially reduce the cost of a healthy diet, particularly in countries with greater diversity of fruits and vegetables.For Kenyans looking for healthy eating on a budget, this means choosing affordable local produce whenever possible while broader investments improve food supply chains
The FAO concludes that making healthy diets affordable will require more than increasing food production. Improving roads, storage facilities, transport systems and agricultural productivity will be just as important in lowering grocery bills
For households wondering why healthy food is so expensive in Kenya, the report offers a clear answer: the price of nutritious food reflects not only what happens on the farm but also the high cost of moving, preserving and delivering it efficiently to consumers
Aloys Michael
View all posts by Aloys Michael
Latest News
Business
Why ugali is affordable but balanced diets remain costly across Kenya – FAO
Business
Kenya gives markets regulator oversight of crypto firms under new law, CMA reveals
Inside Politics
Sifuna: I will reclaim everything I lost after Raila’s death
Inside Politics
2027 polls: Ruto says opposition bid to scrap SHA risks reversing Kenya’s healthcare reforms
Inside Politics
Mudavadi dismisses opposition concerns over Kenya’s 2027 election as watchdog urges reforms
News
DCI arrests 3 more people as 3, 500 bags of counterfeit fertiliser crackdown widens in Uasin Gishu
News
Inside key appointments Murkomen has made to govt agencies
Advertisement
Advertisement
More on Business
Why ugali is affordable but balanced diets remain costly across Kenya – FAO
Business
How to use Safaricom Bonga Points to repay Hustler Fund debt
Business
Lee Kinyanjui reveals why Kenya is losing billions from its tea despite global dominance
Business
Will Kenya fuel prices rise? Red Sea crisis sparks government warning
Business
Why Kenya’s new Competition Bill could change how Bolt, Uber and digital platforms operate
