Advertisement
Kakamega man assaults hotel owner over Ksh10 ugali price hike
04th September, 2026 09:48 AM
For many Kenyans, a plate of ugali and omena is a simple, affordable meal, but in one Kakamega hotel, a Ksh 10 price increase turned a routine lunch into a confrontation.
A customer at a hotel in Makaburini, Kakamega County, attacked the owner after discovering that the price of ugali-omena had increased from Ksh 90 to Ksh 100.
According to hotel owner Geofrey Mushira, the customer walked in expecting to pay the usual price. He handed over a Ksh 100 note, expecting to receive Ksh 10 in change, only to learn that the meal’s price had been increased.
The customer was angered by the unexpected change and allegedly picked up stones before attacking Mushira.
“Mimi nilipigwa ata nimereport nilipigwa kwa sababu ya kuongeza bei. The customer was shocked when I told him that we had hiked the price of ugali-omena. He did not expect it, and before I could explain further, he hit me with a stone,” Mushira said.
The incident happened on Thursday, September 3, 2026, during lunchtime when customers had visited the hotel for the popular ugali-omena meal.
High cost of living
The development highlights the growing sensitivity around food prices as households continue to grapple with the cost of everyday meals.
According to Mushira, the price adjustment was linked to the rising cost of omena in the market, forcing some food vendors and hotel owners to review their menus.
Mushira said the reaction from customers was a reflection of the economic pressure many Kenyans are experiencing, warning that food vendors were increasingly finding themselves at risk of confrontations over price increases.
“We know the situation of the economy. Kenyans are tired, so when they hear that the price of food has gone up, they become hostile. We hotel owners and food vendors are in danger. We want to ask the youth to bear with us. It is the government that has caused all this,” Mushira added.
The hotel owner further urged customers to understand the challenges faced by food vendors, noting that businesses are also dealing with increased costs while trying to keep meals affordable.
While a Ksh 10 increase may appear small, the development demonstrates how even minor changes in the price of a staple meal can trigger strong reactions among customers already feeling the pinch of rising living costs.
