The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) announced on Tuesday that fuel prices for the April–May cycle will see significant increases nationwide, driven by rising global oil costs.
In a statement, EPRA confirmed, “We have calculated the maximum retail prices of petroleum products, effective from April 15, 2026, to May 14, 2026.”
The recent review indicates that the price of super petrol has surged by Sh28.69 per litre, while diesel has increased by Sh40.30 per litre. Kerosene prices remain unchanged.
In Nairobi, motorists will now pay Sh206.97 per litre for super petrol, Sh206.84 for diesel, and Sh152.78 for kerosene, marking a substantial rise from the previous cycle.
In Mombasa, the new rates stand at Sh203.69 for super petrol, Sh203.56 for diesel, and Sh149.49 for kerosene, reflecting slightly lower prices than inland towns due to the city’s proximity to the port.
Kisumu residents will see petrol priced at Sh209.00 per litre, diesel at Sh208.87, and kerosene at Sh154.81, a result of increased transport and distribution costs to western Kenya.
In Nakuru and nearby areas, petrol will retail around Sh209 per litre, diesel at approximately Sh208, and kerosene at about Sh154.
Eldoret motorists will pay about Sh209 for petrol, Sh208 for diesel, and approximately Sh155 for kerosene, reinforcing the trend of rising fuel prices in major urban centers.
In central Kenya, Nyeri residents will pay Sh208.98 per litre for petrol, Sh208.85 for diesel, and Sh154.78 for kerosene. In Embu, petrol will cost Sh208.50, diesel will be Sh208.38, and kerosene will retail at Sh154.31.
In Meru and surrounding towns, petrol prices will exceed Sh209, while diesel will be priced around Sh208, with kerosene retailing above Sh155 per litre.
In eastern Kenya, motorists in Kitui will pay Sh209.24 per litre for petrol, Sh209.12 for diesel, and Sh155.05 for kerosene. In Mwingi, prices will increase further to Sh209.92 for petrol, Sh209.79 for diesel, and Sh155.72 for kerosene.
In remote northern areas, fuel prices remain among the highest in the country due to transport logistics. In Lamu, petrol will be Sh209.02 per litre, diesel at Sh208.91, and kerosene at Sh154.84. In Hola, motorists will pay Sh209.51 for petrol, Sh209.39 for diesel, and Sh155.33 for kerosene.
Similarly, in Taveta, petrol will retail at Sh208.30 per litre, diesel at Sh208.19, and kerosene at Sh154.12, emphasizing the cumulative costs of transporting fuel to distant regions.
EPRA confirmed that the prices include Value Added Tax (VAT) as mandated by the VAT Act, the Finance Act 2023, the Tax Laws (Amendment) Act 2024, and revised excise duty rates adjusted for inflation.
The regulator highlighted that VAT on petroleum products has been reduced from 16 percent to 13 percent to alleviate the burden on consumers facing sharp increases in global fuel prices.
Additionally, the government has utilized Sh6.2 billion from the Petroleum Development Levy to stabilize pump prices and mitigate even steeper hikes.
Despite these measures, the impact of soaring global oil prices has considerably raised local pump prices.
EPRA attributed the increase to a dramatic rise in the landed cost of imported fuel. The average landed cost of super petrol jumped by 41.53 percent from US$582.11 per cubic meter in February to US$823.87 in March.
Diesel experienced an even more significant increase of 68.72 percent over the same period, while kerosene prices surged by 105.15 percent, reflecting ongoing pressures in international energy markets.
During the previous March–April cycle, pump prices in Nairobi were Sh176.58 per litre for petrol, Sh167.06 for diesel, and Sh151.39 for kerosene after EPRA decided to maintain prices.
This latest increase pushes fuel prices above the Sh200 threshold in most towns, a change likely to impact the overall cost of living.
EPRA noted that Kenya imports all its petroleum products in refined form, with prices determined by international market benchmarks and the current exchange rate of the shilling against the US dollar.
“Furthermore, the trade of petroleum products in international markets is denominated in United States dollars (USD), and an exchange rate is applied to convert the USD to shillings during the calculation of local pump prices,” the Authority explained.
According to EPRA, the petroleum pricing regulations are designed to cap retail prices while ensuring the recovery of importation and other prudently incurred costs.
EPRA reassured the public of its ongoing commitment to maintaining fair competition and protecting the interests of both consumers and investors in the energy and petroleum sectors.
This review arrives amid recent reports of fuel supply disruptions in various parts of the country, which have sparked panic buying and long queues at filling stations.
The significant increase is expected to create ripple effects throughout the economy, prompting public service vehicle operators to reconsider fares and businesses to adjust the prices of goods and services in response to heightened transport and production costs.
As these new prices take effect, households and motorists will closely monitor market responses, particularly regarding supply stability and the broader implications for already strained budgets.
