Cement prices hit the ceiling last month and manufacturers are putting the blame on the government.
The manufacturers now say the cost of the commodity has scaled higher due to high taxation and an increase in the cost of raw materials.
The cost of importation of raw materials like concrete admixtures has also risen. Everything is just rising
Richard Mwangi
This has compelled the manufactures to increase the market cost of the commodity.
“We have been forced to increase our prices because of high taxation, the cost of electricity is high, the fuel price is high,” said Richard Mwangi, a representative of the Kenya Federation of Master of Builders.
“The cost of importation of raw materials like concrete admixtures has also risen. Everything is just rising,” he added.
The situation has made hardware shops to put a limit on the number of bags one could purchase.
According to the representative cement firms are struggling to compete with counterfeit cheap cement available.
Cement prices have increased from Sh650 to Sh900 per bag in many retail shops across the country.