The atmosphere at the fresh produce section of Daraja Mbili Market in Kisii Town is no longer what it used to be.
Where traders once competed for space to display overflowing crates of bright red tomatoes, many stalls now hold only small quantities.
Sellers sit patiently, watching customers stop to ask for prices, hesitate, and in many cases walk away.
At Kisii’s busiest market, a business that once comfortably sustained families is now becoming increasingly difficult to survive on, and they don’t know for how long the situation is going to prevail.
For years, tomato trading at Daraja Mbili offered stability to many households.
It was the kind of business traders depended on to educate children, pay rent, buy food, and settle everyday expenses.
Today, however, reduced supplies from producers and rising transport costs have turned what was once a reliable source of income into a constant struggle.
At her stall, Jane Moraa carefully arranges the few tomatoes left in a crate that would ordinarily have sold out before noon.
A tomato trader for several years, Moraa says business has changed drastically in recent months.
“These tomatoes are not coming like before,” she says, her voice carrying frustration.
“Farmers are harvesting less, and suppliers tell us they are struggling to find enough stock. Sometimes we place orders expecting many crates, but only a few arrive.”
According to Moraa, the shortage has shaken the financial foundation of families that relied on tomato sales for survival.
“This business educated my children and paid many bills at home,” she explains.
“Before, I would sell several crates in a day and go home satisfied because I had made enough money. Nowadays, customers buy only a few tomatoes or leave after hearing the prices.”
Currently, a single large tomato now costs between Sh20 and Sh30, while three medium-sized tomatoes retail at up to Sh50.
A few months back, four tomatoes went for Sh20.
On a good day, a 2kg tin full of tomatoes sells for between Sh150 and Sh200, depending on quality and availability.
For many households already struggling with the rising cost of living, buying tomatoes in bulk has become nearly impossible, yet traders insist the increase in prices does not mean higher profits.
“People think we are making more money because tomatoes are expensive,” Moraa says.
“But we are also buying at very high prices. Sometimes you spend the whole day here and make almost nothing because customers cannot afford to buy.”
Many sellers blame the shortage on reduced supply from producers in major tomato-growing areas.
Heavy rains pounding many parts of the country and poor harvests have affected production, leaving suppliers with little to deliver.
While this is not the first such a shortage is being experienced, traders say it has prolonged and they are unsure of when normalcy will resume.
Peter Onchoke, another tomato trader at the market, says the situation has changed dramatically compared to previous months.
“Before, one supplier could bring enough tomatoes to fill several stalls,” he recalls.
“Nowadays, they arrive with very little because producers say harvests are poor. We are all fighting for the little stock available.”
Traders also say that rising transportation costs have made business even harder.
Onchoke explains that transporters have increased charges due to higher fuel prices and poor road conditions in farming areas affected by rains.
“Transport has become too expensive,” he says.
“Drivers say roads are damaged and vehicles consume more fuel. By the time tomatoes reach Kisii, the cost is already very high, and that affects everyone.”
For Onchoke, the impact goes beyond business losses as it once guaranteed stability for his family.
“This work paid school fees for my children and helped me take care of my home,” he says.
“Now profits are too low. Sometimes tomatoes spoil because customers fear the prices, and that becomes a loss.”
The pressure is also being felt by buyers like Mary Kerubo, who says she has been forced to change how she cooks at home.
“Before, Sh100 could buy enough tomatoes for several meals,” she says.
“Now you buy very little. Sometimes I cook vegetables without tomatoes because life has become expensive.”
The situation is even worse in outlying trading centres and villages, since traders there have to acquire the fruits from Daraja Mbili, and seek to sell them at some profit when they get back.
However, with the growing frustrations, traders continue opening their stalls every morning, hopeful that supplies from producers will improve and prices will eventually stabilise.
It has been learnt that the crisis is not confined to Daraja Mbili Market or Kisii alone, and similar shortages are being reported in other parts of Kenya, where traders and households alike are grappling with high prices and limited supply.