Official average prices
The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) checks retail prices across the country every month for the consumer price index. These are the figures it has published for meat:
| Product, per kilo | When | KES |
|---|---|---|
| Beef with bones | 2020, year average | 436.76 |
| Beef with bones | December 2022 | 527.63 |
| Beef with bones | November 2023 | 582.63 |
| Beef with bones | December 2023 | 603.51 |
| Beef with bones | 2024, year average | 635.08 |
| Goat meat | November 2023 | 694.77 |
| Matumbo (offal) | 2020, year average | 260.46 |
| Matumbo (offal) | 2024, year average | 348.92 |
These are national averages. Prices in Nairobi estates, towns near the big livestock markets and tourist areas can be well above or below them, and a kilo of boneless steak or fillet sells for much more than beef with bones.
For the latest month, look for the consumer price index release on the KNBS website. It lists the average price of beef, goat meat and other foods.
How much prices have gone up
Between 2020 and 2024 the average price of beef with bones rose from KES 436.76 to KES 635.08 a kilo, an increase of about 45%. Matumbo rose from KES 260.46 to KES 348.92, about 34%.
For a butchery this matters in two ways. Your buying price moves with it, so a price you set a year ago may now leave you with almost no margin. And customers notice every increase, so you need to know your numbers before you change the price on the board.
What moves meat prices
- Weather. In a drought farmers sell animals early and prices can dip, then rise sharply once herds are smaller. After good rains, farmers hold on to their animals and supply tightens.
- Festive seasons. Demand rises around Christmas, Easter and Eid, and so do prices.
- Transport. Fuel costs and distance from the livestock market add to every kilo.
- Slaughter and inspection fees charged at the slaughterhouse.
- The cut. Beef with bones, boneless steak, fillet and mince all sell at different prices.
Setting your own selling price
Do not copy the shop next door. Start from what you pay and what you lose when the meat is cut:
Selling price = buying price ÷ (1 − waste share) ÷ (1 − margin you want)
Example: you buy beef at KES 560 a kilo, about 6% is lost as bone and trimming, and you want to keep 20% of each sale. 560 ÷ 0.94 ÷ 0.80 = about KES 745 a kilo. Round it to a price your customers are used to, such as KES 750.
The full method, with expenses, is in How to calculate butchery profit per kilo.
Keep a record of what you pay
Write down the buying price of every delivery, not just the selling price. When the supplier's price goes up by KES 20 a kilo and you sell 60 kilos a day, that is KES 1,200 a day, or about KES 36,000 a month, that you lose unless you adjust.
MyButchery keeps the buying and selling price for every day, so you can see straight away when your margin on beef or goat starts to shrink.
Common questions
What is the price of beef per kg in Kenya?
The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics reported an average of KES 635.08 a kilo for beef with bones over 2024. Boneless cuts cost more, and prices vary by town.
What is the price of goat meat per kg in Kenya?
KNBS reported an average of KES 694.77 a kilo for goat meat in November 2023. Check the latest consumer price index release for the current figure.
Why is goat meat more expensive than beef?
A goat gives far less meat than a cow, so each kilo carries more of the cost of the animal, transport and slaughter. Goat is also in high demand for nyama choma.
How often should a butchery change its prices?
Check your margin every time the buying price changes. Many shops review prices weekly and change the board only when the margin has moved enough to matter.