The price of a sack of traditional vegetables, managu, in Kisii has doubled from Sh4,000 a few months ago as drought continues to wreak havoc.
Managu is in the family of several species of vegetables known as African nightshades that are popular in Kenya and commonly consumed as leafy vegetables and herbs.
It is one of the most important and popular indigenous leafy vegetables and is widely distributed throughout the tropics.
Traders in Kisii said the price of the vegetable may rise to Sh10,000 in the coming weeks if the rains fail to come.
Normally, a 50kg sack of managu goes for between Sh2,500 and Sh4,000.
Most of the managu sold in Kisii town and at the Magena drip point is sourced from Kilgoris Constituency. Most residents have also grown the vegetable on their farms.
The drought situation has pushed many traders out of business due to the shortage of fresh vegetables, including saga (saget). A sack of saga currently goes for Sh5,500.
The lorries that would be seen ferrying the vegetables from Kisii to other major towns, including Kisumu and Nairobi, have significantly reduced their trips.
Beatrice Mokeira, who has been selling both Saget and African nightshade at the market for more than eight years, has termed the drought as the worst the region has experienced in the recent past.
"It would rain in February. However, this year has been different. We expect to have more vegetables from May even though this will depend on whether or not we will have rain that is expected in March," said Mokeira.
She said the smallest bunch of vegetables is currently retailing at Sh100. "This is enough to serve just three people," Mokeira said.
Another trader, Naom Nyaboke, said she used to ferry up to six sacks of managu and saget every day from Kiango along the Transamara and Kisii border.
"However, at the moment, it is almost impossible to get even a single sack. We cant meet the demand for vegetables," she said.
At the Kisii Town fresh vegetable market, locals and hoteliers are feeling the heat. One will need up to Sh300 to purchase enough vegetables for a family.
Janet Kemunto said that she spends up to Sh400 to get enough vegetables for her family. She has three children.
"There is a serious shortage of vegetables. Even sukuma wiki is hard to come by," said Kemunto.
Charles Mochoge, who operates an eatery in Kisii town, said a plate of managu or saga goes for Sh250 up from Sh 150.
"We have no option but to increase the price. Some people prefer taking meals in hotels and not in their houses because of the cost implications of buying and preparing some of these vegetables," he said.
