Petrol Costs KSh 12.93 More a Litre in Nairobi From Today as EPRA Lifts Fuel PricesPetrol Costs KSh 12.93 More a Litre in Nairobi From Today as EPRA Lifts Fuel Prices
Key Highlights
- Nairobi petrol now has a ceiling of KSh 226.96 ($1.75) a litre, up KSh 12.93 from KSh 214.03 ($1.65), for the month to 14 November.
- Diesel rises KSh 9.90 to KSh 227.76 ($1.75), and kerosene jumps KSh 28.49 to KSh 219.87 ($1.69), the steepest rise of the three.
- EPRA says September import costs for petrol and diesel climbed by more than 11%, driven by Middle East tensions.
Petrol, diesel and kerosene all cost more in Nairobi from today. The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) said at a Nairobi briefing on 14 October that the maximum price of super petrol is now KSh 226.96 ($1.75) a litre, up KSh 12.93 from KSh 214.03 ($1.65). The new ceilings apply from 15 October to 14 November 2026.
Prices had been unchanged in the previous cycle, as Mwenendo reported. This is the first rise after that hold, and it lands on households and businesses already facing higher living costs.
What each fuel now costs in Nairobi
These are maximum retail prices, which include 8% value added tax (VAT). Pump stations may charge less, and prices in other towns differ.
| Fuel | New price per litre | Previous price | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Super petrol | KSh 226.96 ($1.75) | KSh 214.03 ($1.65) | +KSh 12.93 (6.04%) |
| Diesel | KSh 227.76 ($1.75) | KSh 217.86 ($1.68) | +KSh 9.90 (4.54%) |
| Kerosene | KSh 219.87 ($1.69) | KSh 191.38 ($1.47) | +KSh 28.49 (14.89%) |
Kerosene has the largest rise in percentage terms. Many low-income households use it for cooking and lighting.
Dollar amounts in this article use the Central Bank of Kenya rate of KSh 129.94 to the dollar on 8 October.
Why import costs pushed prices up
EPRA said the average cost of imported fuel on arrival in Kenya rose between August and September 2026. For super petrol, it climbed 11.81%, from KSh 113,601 ($874.26) to KSh 127,023 ($977.55) per cubic metre. Diesel rose 11.32%, from KSh 124,359 ($957.05) to KSh 138,435 ($1,065.38).
EPRA Director General Edward Kinyua linked the rise to pressure from the Middle East conflict, according to the Pulse Kenya report. Kenya buys refined fuel from abroad, so a jump in world prices reaches the pump with a delay of about a month.
The government is also using a lower VAT rate of 8% on fuel to soften the blow. Business.co.ke reports the temporary cut remains in place until mid-January 2027.
What the rise means for household budgets
Diesel runs the lorries that carry food, building materials and goods across the country, and it powers farm machinery. When it costs more, transport firms often pass the cost on to shops and then to shoppers. Matatu and bus operators may do the same on fares.
Annual inflation, the yearly rise in prices, reached 6.8% in September from 6.6% in August, according to reports of the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics release. The bureau counts transport as one of the main drivers. Readers can see how oil costs reach the pump in Mwenendo's explainer on international oil costs.
The next price review is due in mid-November. Oil prices over the coming weeks will largely decide whether the ceilings rise again or ease.
In Summary
- What are the new Nairobi fuel prices?
- Super petrol KSh 226.96 ($1.75), diesel KSh 227.76 ($1.75) and kerosene KSh 219.87 ($1.69) a litre, all maximum prices.
- When do they apply?
- From 15 October to 14 November 2026.
- Why did prices rise?
- EPRA says September import costs rose by more than 9% for each fuel, linked to Middle East tensions.
- Who feels it most?
- Drivers, transport firms and households that use kerosene, which rose 14.89%.