Our latest Joint Market Monitoring Initiative (JMMI) offers crucial insights into market trends and challenges in Kenya’s arid and semi-arid land (ASAL) counties for the first quarter of 2024. This quarterly report, initiated in March 2022, aims to provide reliable data on prices, market functionality, and the availability of essential commodities.

Key Findings:

1. Increased MEB Costs: The national median cost of the Minimum Expenditure Basket (MEB) rose to 20,032 KES in Q1 2024, an increase from 19,098 KES in the previous quarter. Mandera County reported the highest costs for both food and non-food items.
2. Vendor Challenges: Despite improved agricultural yields due to affordable fertilizers and favorable weather, 95% of vendors face significant challenges, including reduced customer numbers and lack of funds for restocking. Additionally, 61% struggle to keep their businesses operational.
3. Affordability Issues: Affordability remains a major concern, with 77% of vendors reporting that customers face financial barriers despite the availability of commodities. This has been identified as the primary dimension adversely affecting market classification.
4. Food and NFI Price Trends: While staple food prices like maize grain, beans, and rice have declined following a bumper harvest, prices for items like onions and traditional vegetables have increased. The price of water also rose in Isiolo and Mandera counties, contributing to higher NFI MEB costs.
5. Interactive Dashboard: The JMMI report includes an interactive online dashboard where stakeholders can explore detailed data on food and NFI prices across different counties and time periods.

Importance and Implications:

The JMMI report is vital for understanding the economic landscape of Kenya’s ASAL counties. By highlighting price trends, market accessibility, and vendor challenges, the report provides valuable information for policymakers, humanitarian organizations, and other stakeholders involved in economic planning and intervention strategies.

Call to Action:

For a deeper understanding of the current market dynamics and the challenges faced by vendors and consumers in ASAL counties, we encourage you to read the full JMMI report. Access the interactive dashboard for detailed insights and support informed decision-making in addressing these market challenges.

Read the Full Report: KCWG_KEN_JMMI-Q1-ASAL-Counties-MARCH2024.pdf (impact-initiatives.org)

Access the interactive Dashboard: KEN JMMI (impact-initiatives.org)

By staying informed and proactive, we can collectively work towards improving market conditions and economic stability in Kenya’s ASAL counties.