Kenya Inflation Rises to 7.3% in October as Food and Fuel Prices Climb

Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) reported that annual inflation rose to 7.3 per cent in October 2026, up from 6.8 per cent in September.

The increase was driven mainly by higher food, transport and household energy costs, with food and non-alcoholic beverages up 10.2 per cent, transport up 17.1 per cent and housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels up 3.7 per cent over the year, according to KNBS.

Prices for a range of everyday items rose month-on-month. A 500 ml packet of milk cost KSh64.13, up from KSh61.23; fresh milk per litre increased to KSh80.58 from KSh77.54; cooking oil edged to KSh361.04 a litre from KSh359.36.

Irish potatoes rose to KSh125.06 a kilo from KSh121.98, cabbages to KSh82.38 from KSh79.16, and beef with bones to KSh789.29 a kilo from KSh782.68. Wheat flour (2 kg) cost KSh184.88 versus KSh181.11 previously, and beans climbed to KSh185.75 a kilo from KSh182.76. Sugar fell slightly to KSh163.84 a kilo from KSh165.79.

Fuel prices recorded some of the steepest jumps. Petrol averaged KSh227.85 a litre, up from KSh214.95; diesel rose to KSh228.77 from KSh219.04; kerosene increased to KSh220.88 from KSh192.56, a rise of 14.7 per cent month-on-month. Capital Business noted kerosene had risen 41.6 per cent year-on-year, a differing figure.

The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) raised pump prices earlier in October, adding KSh12.93 to Super Petrol, KSh9.90 to diesel and KSh28.49 to kerosene per litre.

A 13-kilogram cooking gas cylinder rose from KSh3,419.24 to KSh3,429.61, a small increase, while Capital Business reported a 9.5 per cent rise, a discrepancy between the two sources. Matatu fare from Westlands to Kangemi increased from KSh40 to KSh50, and the cost of 200 units of electricity fell marginally to KSh5,529.66 from KSh5,533.76.

Core inflation edged up to 4.3 per cent in October from 4.0 per cent in September, and non-core inflation rose to 15.1 per cent from 14.0 per cent. Inflation has been climbing throughout the year, reaching 7.3 per cent in October, just 0.2 percentage points below the Central Bank of Kenya’s upper target of 7.5 per cent.