Social media posts spread disinformation about cost of living in Kenya
- This article is more than one year old.
- Published on March 3, 2023 at 16:23
- 4 min read
- By James OKONG'O, AFP Kenya
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"Those who want us to improve the economy raise your hands. If we are to do it, do you want us to begin with the rich people or the poor grocery shop operators and motorbike taxi riders?" reads a Facebook post published in Swahili on February 22, 2023.
It features a photo showing a stack of 2-kilogram packets of maize flour in a supermarket with a sign advertising the product for 353 Kenyan shillings.
Many among the hundreds of users who commented on the post believed that due to inflation, a two-kilogram packet of maize flour was retailing at 353 Kenyan shillings.
"It is you Kenyans who did not understand Ruto’s campaign slogan 'Bottom up', it meant that low food prices will be increased upwards,” reads one comment in Swahili.
Another user wrote: "Prices rising from the BOTTOM UP."
Opposition MP Robert Alai also posted a tweet referencing the same phrase.
In his 2022 election campaign, Kenyan President William Ruto promised Kenyans a "bottom-up" economic transformation which would channel resources to sectors that have a significant impact on job and wealth creation, especially for the poorest at the bottom of the pyramid.
Elsewhere on social media, users claimed that the price of maize flour had drastically decreased.
"Unga price is dropping drastically... Kenya Kwanza delivers (sic)," reads a Facebook post, referring to the political alliance headed by Kenya’s president. Unga is the Swahili word for maize flour.
This post features a photo of maize flour bags neatly stacked inside a store, this time with a sign reading "KES 154".
Anger over inflation
Rising prices of commodities including Kenya’s staple food maize flour, electricity and fuel have become a political headache for Ruto and his Kenya Kwanza alliance team as they seek to fulfil their campaign promise of lowering the cost of living.
In response, opposition leader Raila Odinga and others have organised protests in recent weeks.
A survey released on February 28 found that nearly three-quarters of Kenyans are concerned about the high cost of living in the country.
The current inflation is not only being felt in Kenya – it is a global phenomenon influenced by a combination of factors including the Covid-19 pandemic, the Ukraine war and prolonged drought in the Horn of Africa.
Kenya is experiencing one of its worst droughts with more than four million people in need of food assistance.
But claims that the price of maize flour has either almost doubled or reduced significantly since President Ruto took office are misleading.
Misleading posts
AFP Fact Check found that the signs in the photos show promotional offers, not the price for single bags of maize flour.
The photo in the first two posts was taken in a Naivas supermarket, as evidenced by the Naivas logo on the fridge on the left-hand side.
It shows a combined promotional price for a two-kilogram pack of maize flour and a 2-litre bottle of Coca-Cola. It is clearly written on the sign that the price is for the two products, not just for maize flour.
Meanwhile, the post claiming that prices have dropped significantly actually shows a 29-percent discount on a two-kilogram packet of maize flour. This promotion is visible on the sign, which says "29% off" at the top.
The red and green branding indicates that this was taken in a Quickmart supermarket.
The original price of the commodity, without the promotion, is 219 Kenyan shillings ($1.72). This is clearly written on the signpost.
A crosscheck by AFP Fact Check in Nairobi’s major retail stores – including Naivas and Quickmart – found that a 2 kg pack of maize flour was retailing at between 180 and 220 Kenyan shillings ($1.42 to 1.73) depending on the brand on February 28, 2023 – a far cry from the claim of 353 shillings.
Local media reports also show that a 2 kg packet of maize flour continues to retail at an average of 180 Kenyan shillings in the country.
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