Boiled eggs, smokie vendors give restaurants a run for their money as Kenyans cut costs

With several people ditching eating out to cut on costs, restaurateurs have been left wondering how to attract clients, with some resorting to giving buy one get one free (BOGOF) offers to attract traffic.

Lawrence, a fast-food business owner, spoke to Wananchi Reporting about the challenges he has faced.

“One of the most significant hurdles hoteliers face is the high cost of food ingredients, which has led to pricing menu items higher than I’d like,” he said.

This, in turn, has resulted in a shortage of customers who find it increasingly difficult to afford dining out regularly.

The price of food is becoming a huge hindrance to the hoteliers with a 90kg bag of beans doubling over the past year and a half. 

Lawrence said he used to buy it at Ksh. 8,000 but now the same bag is going for Ksh. 16,000. 

Meanwhile, although the situation has also affected street food vendors, including those who sell boiled eggs and smokies, they have profited from better sales as their foods are cheaper.

An egg with kachumbari that would normally go for Ksh. 25 is now being bought at Ksh. 30.

Although there has been an increase in price, it cannot be compared to food at an eatery that would go anywhere from upwards of Ksh. 200.

Other food vendors who have seen sales go up are groundnut sellers, who sell the snack for as little as Ksh. 10 for a small packet.

The advantage many cite with this snack is that it is filling and one won’t be hungry for hours.

Others have taken to drinking porridge – another filling drink which some vendors have fortified with groundnuts, and arrow roots.

As the cost of living continues to sore, businesses are having to rethink how to remain afloat.

Compiled by Rhobi Winani