People rely on chicken and eggs for economic reasons. Among them are farmers, poultry processors, and chicken specialty restaurants. In Kanduyi market, Bungoma County, chicken business has never been more interesting. Several nutritional reports have proven that chicken meat contains a high level of vitamins and that eggs are high in nutrition and convenient as they are low-cost foods.
It is the nature of people of western Kenya, in the preparation of any festivals, to prepare chicken. This has caused the prices and demand soar significantly in the region in the recent thus spawning chicken and its products to soar significantly in the region.
Mr. Wafula, a local vendor says he earns a lot from the sale of chicken. This applies mostly when you consider the fact that the prices of chicken, especially indigenous chicken, soar due to the high demand.
A chicken purveyor at Kanduyi market admitted that the price of chicken has skyrocketed and attributes it to the high demand of the commodity which has been compounded by the insufficient supply.
“Indigenous chicken, which are highly valued by customers, are sourced from West Pokot County, the overhead costs of transportation will automatically be lumped on the customers,” added Mr. Wafula.
He says the price of cocks ranges between Kshs 600 to Kshs 1000 per chicken
However, vendors attribute the scarcity of the commodity during this season to the number of residents who work outside the county streaming home for the holidays.
“Most people travel home with families during holidays and they mostly go for the traditional chicken which is mostly preferred as they are delicious,” he said.
Meanwhile, the price of exotic chicken in the market is likely to remain stable. Broilers retail at between Kshs 450 to Kshs 600.
The low demand of exotic chicken by revelers is attributed to the subsequent low sales.
IMPORTATION OF PRODUCTS FROM UGANDA CAUSES INCREASE IN COST
The price of different cereals in the market has been on an upward trajectory.
Moses Wekesa a middle-aged man and a dealer explains how they incur heavy costs during transportation of the cereals from Uganda and therefore they have to pass them to the consumers’ hence high price of the commodity.
“The price of groundnuts has rapidly increased from Kshs 250 to Kshs 380. I attribute this to the shortage of the produce in the town and therefore we have to import it from Uganda after harvesting,” states Mr. Wekesa.
He says of all the products, the price of groundnuts has affected many dealers and this year marks the highest in the sales. Other cereals like millet and beans have also increased in cost.
Despite the challenges he faces Mr. Wekesa says he loves his job and wouldn’t trade it for anything else. He encourages young people who claim to have no jobs to be open minded and venture into different businesses preferably running cereals shop which requires less capital.