The poor man’s delicacy is becoming a rich man’s luxury. New economic data reveals a crushing reality for Kenyan households: even the most basic survival foods are slipping out of reach as inflation relentlessly eats away at the dinner table.

It is the ultimate indicator of an economy in distress: when matumbo (tripe), the traditional protein of last resort for struggling families, sees its price skyrocket. The 2025 Economic Survey, released by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), paints a grim picture of the last five years. The average retail price of a kilogram of matumbo has jumped from Ksh 260.46 in 2020 to Ksh 348.92 in 2024—a punishing 34% increase that far outstrips wage growth.

The Anatomy of Hunger

The "So What?" here is devastating. For millions of Kenyans, matumbo was the safety net when beef became unaffordable. Now, that safety net is being pulled away.

• Beef Crisis: Beef with bones has surged from Ksh 436.76 to Ksh 635.08, a luxury few can justify.
• Staple Strain: It is not just meat. A 400g loaf of bread has climbed to Ksh 66.46, and wheat flour has hit Ksh 180.41. Every meal costs significantly more than it did a presidential term ago.

A Systemic Failure

The data exposes a systemic failure in the country's food security architecture. Despite promises of agricultural revitalization and subsidized production, the cost of putting food on the table has only gone one way: up. The rise in cabbage prices by 23.4% and kale (sukuma wiki) by 21.5% means that even a vegetarian diet offers no refuge from the inflation storm. The survey confirms what every mother in the market already knows—the shilling is dying.

The Human Cost

Behind these percentages are families skipping meals, children going to school hungry, and a middle class sliding into poverty. The price of matumbo is not just a number; it is a barometer of national suffering. As the cost of living crisis deepens, the resilience of the Kenyan consumer is being tested to its breaking point. If the "poor man's meat" is now expensive, what is left to eat?