Egg prices have reduced slightly in recent months due to improved supply but rising feed costs remain the major challenge for poultry farmers.
Eggs are a popular source of protein in Kenya due to their relatively low price, compared to alternatives such as meat, chicken and fish.
According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, the average price of a tray of 30 eggs has eased to Sh584.3 over the last month, down from Sh594.7 during the same period in 2023.
The average includes retail prices for both exotic and indigenous eggs, commonly known as kienyeji, which were collected from dozens of markets across the country.
It shows that a tray of exotic eggs is selling from between Sh400 to Sh600, while indigenous eggs are selling for between Sh540 and Sh750 per tray.
The supply of eggs in Kenya is highly seasonal, which means that food product prices fluctuate frequently. The supply of the commodity is also influenced by the availability of feeds, where higher-quality feeds often result in increased yields.
Eggs are one of the most dynamic foods with a wide array of uses including baking, guaranteeing their demand throughout the year.
Kenchic Managing Director Jim Tozer said the price changes has not impacted demand for eggs even though per capita consumption remains low in Kenya, compared to other countries such as South Africa and the United States.
“Despite recent price variations, eggs continue to be a sought-after dietary staple across diverse communities,” said Mr Tozer.
The Kenchic boss said that the cost of feeds remains the main headache for farmers who are incurring higher costs for maize and soy feeds.
“Kenya’s egg market in 2024 faces a dynamic landscape, with fluctuations in feed costs due to rising maize and soy prices. This has created challenges for layer farmers; however, consumer demand remains resilient,” said Mr Tozer.
Kenya is a major importer of eggs especially from its neighbours Uganda and Tanzania, as local supply is unable to meet the growing demand for the food commodity.
The decline in prices of some food commodities such as eggs, maize flour, wheat flour, and sukuma wiki has helped mitigate against food inflation, which stood at 4.3 percent in October, according to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS).
