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Abstract
This study determines household food consumption patterns in Kenya using a QAIDS framework
employing 2005/2006 household budget data. The results are used to evaluate the distributional
welfare effects of import tariff reduction on three important staple cereals, namely maize, wheat
and rice. The results indicate that food prices, income and demographic factors influence patterns
of rural and urban household food demand. Furthermore, import tariff reduction has a progressive
welfare effect on urban and upper-income rural households, but a regressive effect on lowerincome
rural households. The study recommends policies that will improve income generation and
widen the tariff reduction bracket.