Nairobi households are running out of room in their budgets as the cost of everyday needs continues to rise, with 81 per cent of those surveyed saying they are dealing with higher expenses or lower incomes.
The latest findings by Tifa Research show that the pressure is being felt across household spending, with transport, food, fuel and education emerging among the main areas driving financial strain.
The findings are contained in Tifa Research’s Ride-Hailing Industry Survey in Kenya; Public Perception Towards the Proposed Minimum Fare Policy, released on Thursday.
According to the survey, 62 per cent of respondents identified the high cost of living as their biggest challenge. They cited increasing expenses on transport, fuel, food and education as key areas affecting their finances.
Another 19 per cent said their main difficulty was limited income, pointing to low earnings, weak business performance or unemployment.
High taxes were cited by 12 per cent of those interviewed, while six per cent identified corruption, crime and insecurity as challenges. Two per cent either said they were not facing any major challenge or were uncertain about what affected them most.
Tifa said the continued increase in the cost of basic commodities had left consumers with less money to spend, making them more vulnerable to any further increases in essential expenses.
The research found that any changes that push up the price of transport, fuel, food or education could place an additional burden on families already struggling to manage their budgets.
“Any additional costs are likely to deepen financial hardship and reduce consumer spending,” reads the report.
The concern over rising prices was widespread among those interviewed, with 92 per cent saying they were either somewhat or very concerned about the increasing cost of everyday needs.
Fuel, groceries, rent and transport were among the expenses causing concern.
A total of 81 per cent said they were very concerned about rising prices, while 11 per cent described themselves as somewhat concerned.
Five per cent said they were not very concerned, while three per cent said they were not concerned at all.
The level of worry varied across age groups. Among respondents aged 35 years and above, 91 per cent said they were very concerned about rising prices.
This compared with 78 per cent of respondents aged between 18 and 34 years.
Women also reported a higher level of concern than men. Eighty-four per cent of women surveyed said they were very concerned about rising prices, compared with 78 per cent of men.
The survey also tracked changes in the average prices of selected goods and services over a one-year period, comparing June 2025 figures with those recorded in June 2026.
Tomatoes posted the largest increase among the food products included in the comparison.
The average cost of a kilogramme rose from Sh83.88 in June 2025 to Sh117.87 in June 2026, translating to an increase of about 41 per cent.
The price of Irish potatoes also climbed during the period, rising from Sh90.15 to Sh111.10 per kilogramme. This represented a 23 per cent increase.
Sukuma wiki recorded a 27 per cent rise, with the average price of a kilogramme moving from Sh90.42 to Sh114.44.
Beef prices went up by about 10 per cent, from Sh690.15 per kilogramme to Sh760.75.
Fresh packed cow milk recorded a smaller change, increasing from Sh56.38 for 500g to Sh57.33, equivalent to about two per cent.
Cooking oil rose by approximately three per cent, with the average price moving from Sh347.17 per litre to Sh358.63.
Loose maize grain also increased by about three per cent, from Sh70.40 to Sh72.52 per kilogramme.
Fuel recorded some of the more notable changes during the period.
The average Nairobi price of diesel rose from Sh171.58 per litre in June 2025 to Sh222.86 in June 2026, representing an increase of 30 per cent.
Petrol prices also increased, moving from Sh186.31 to Sh214.03 per litre, a rise of about 15 per cent.
Not all commodities became more expensive. The average price of sifted maize flour dropped slightly from Sh160.22 per kilogramme to Sh159.78, representing a decline of about 0.27 per cent.
Tifa linked the changing prices of household essentials to consumers’ ability to meet other expenses.
The research body said the rise in the cost of basic household goods “had reduced consumers’ disposable income,” adding that “passengers were therefore likely to be highly sensitive to any policy that increases transport costs.”
The findings are particularly relevant to the survey’s focus on public opinion towards the proposed minimum fare policy in the ride-hailing sector, as consumers face pressure from several other rising household expenses.
The survey was carried out between July 17 and 21, 2026, in Nairobi County.
Researchers conducted face-to-face interviews at the 0household level, mainly using Swahili and English. The study involved members of the public aged 18 years and above, including both male and female respondents.
A total of 733 people participated in the research. Tifa gave the survey’s margin of error as plus or minus 2.18 per cent, while noting that smaller groups within the sample had larger error margins.
The sample consisted of 51 per cent men and 49 per cent women.
Young adults aged 18 to 24 years made up 27 per cent of the respondents, while those aged between 25 and 34 accounted for 20 per cent. The remaining respondents were aged 35 years and above.
The research covered different groups based on employment and income. Those interviewed included self-employed people, business owners, formally employed workers, informal sector workers, students and unemployed people.
Tifa noted that the commodity prices included in the report were illustrative averages and could change depending on the region and the time when the goods or services were assessed