VAT: Nyeri residents take up traditional foods

Mr Geoffrey Mutahi sells sweet potatoes along Kimathi Street in Nyeri. Photo/FILE  NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary

• Demand for sweet potato on the rise as more people change their eating habits.
• President Uhuru Kenyatta assented to the Bill that introduces tax on dairy products, cooking gas, electricity, exercise books, text book, mobile phones and electricity.

By JAME NGUNJIRI
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Sale of traditional foods in Nyeri town has become booming business after the announcement of Value Added Tax on bread and processed milk.

Demand for sweet potatoes, cassavas, bananas and yams, has escalated as consumers seek to substitute processed wheat products.

(READ: Low-income earners to suffer most from high food prices)

“For the small sized sweet potatoes, each cluster is selling at Sh50, while the large ones we are selling them at Sh100,” said Ms Mary Wanjiku, a sweet potato trader.

According to Ms Wanjiku, who has been selling sweet potatoes for the last five years, the demand for her the food has been on the rise as more people change their eating habits.

ABUNDANT CROP

Traditional food crops are abundant in most parts of the Nyeri County.

Titus Mathu, another trader, said demand for arrow roots has skyrocketed but supply remains low which has forced him to increase his prices.

However, last week, manufacturers accused retailers of exorbitantly increasing prices of basic goods and services as the implementation of the new VAT law puts pressure on consumers.

The VAT Law which came into force early this month was effected following President Uhuru Kenyatta’s assent to the Bill that introduces tax on dairy products, cooking gas, electricity, exercise books, text book, mobile phones and electricity