Food imports into Kenya grew by 58.33% in January, compared with the same month of the previous year.
The country’s import bill rose from Sh13.2bn (US$130.7mn) in January 2017 to Sh20.9bn ($207mn) in January 2018, according to Kenya’s Bureau of Statistics.
The Bureau also notes that Kenya’s total imports reached Sh157.50bn ($1.56bn) in January, rising 4.5% from the previous year’s recorded Sh150.74bn ($1.5bn).
The increase of imports is partly affected by recent weather conditions, with little rain causing the government to grant subsidies, and a waiver of import duties between May and December.