Distance Premium: Petrol Costs More in Mandera Than Mombasa Under New EPRA Fuel Price CeilingsDistance Premium: Petrol Costs More in Mandera Than Mombasa Under New EPRA Fuel Price Ceilings

The spread matters because the latest review lifted ceilings everywhere: super petrol rose by KSh 12.93 a litre and kerosene by KSh 28.49, and the new prices run until 14 November. Where a household lives now decides how much of that increase it feels most.

Murban crude, a benchmark for the region, stood at US$101.67 a barrel on 8 October against US$95.76 a week earlier, according to the Central Bank of Kenya weekly bulletin.

Coast and central towns

Mombasa has the lowest ceilings: KSh 223.80 ($1.73) for petrol, KSh 224.48 ($1.73) for diesel and KSh 216.58 ($1.67) for kerosene. Nairobi follows at KSh 226.96 ($1.75) for petrol, KSh 227.76 ($1.76) for diesel and KSh 219.87 ($1.70) for kerosene.

Nakuru is capped at KSh 225.85 ($1.74), KSh 227.17 ($1.75) and KSh 219.30 ($1.69) for the three fuels. Eldoret and Kisumu share the same ceilings: KSh 226.62 ($1.75) for petrol, KSh 227.98 ($1.76) for diesel and KSh 220.12 ($1.70) for kerosene. Nyeri is at KSh 228.83 ($1.76), KSh 229.77 ($1.77) and KSh 221.87 ($1.71).

Northern towns carry the highest ceilings

Garissa is capped at KSh 233.33 ($1.80) for petrol, KSh 234.60 ($1.81) for diesel and KSh 226.70 ($1.75) for kerosene. Mandera has the highest ceilings among the towns listed: KSh 240.96 ($1.86) for petrol, KSh 242.23 ($1.87) for diesel and KSh 234.33 ($1.81) for kerosene.

Mombasa is cheapest because of its proximity to the country's main import terminal, while inland towns carry additional pipeline and road transport costs, according to a HapaKenya report on the price schedule. These are maximum prices, so individual stations may charge less.

What the increase means for households

Higher fuel costs typically raise transport and freight charges, which then feed into food and manufacturing costs. The kerosene rise of KSh 28.49 a litre falls hardest on households that use it for cooking and lighting.

Mwenendo earlier reported on how Kenya's fuel prices held steady in the previous cycle, so this month's rise is the first increase in the period. Inflation was already 6.8% in September, as Mwenendo also reported in its story on the Central Bank of Kenya rate decision, so the new ceilings arrive when household budgets are under pressure. The next review is due on 14 November.