Kenya Inflation Rate Accelerates to 2-Year High of 5.6%

2026-04-29 13:27 By Luisa Carvalho 1 min. read

The annual inflation rate in Kenya picked up to 5.6% in April 2026, the highest since March 2024, from 4.4% in the prior month.

The spike in inflation reflects rising costs for petroleum products amid the Middle East conflict, which has pushed up transportation prices (10% vs 3.8% in March).

Additional upward pressure came mostly from food & non-alcoholic beverages (8.8% vs 7.7%); housing & utilities (2.4% vs 2%); education (3.2% vs 3.3%) and miscellaneous goods & services (2.7% vs 2.5%).

On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose by 1.4%, the most since April 2022, after a 0.5% increase in March, with transportation prices surging 6.5%.

Inflation is expected to quicken further in the coming months, despite government measures to cushion consumers, including a reduction in fuel taxes.

The VAT on petroleum products was cut from 16% to 8%, and the fuel stabilisation fund was deployed, with KES 6.2 billion (about $40 million) spent earlier this month to limit pump price increases.



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Kenya Inflation Rate Accelerates to 2-Year High of 5.6%
The annual inflation rate in Kenya picked up to 5.6% in April 2026, the highest since March 2024, from 4.4% in the prior month. The spike in inflation reflects rising costs for petroleum products amid the Middle East conflict, which has pushed up transportation prices (10% vs 3.8% in March). Additional upward pressure came mostly from food & non-alcoholic beverages (8.8% vs 7.7%); housing & utilities (2.4% vs 2%); education (3.2% vs 3.3%) and miscellaneous goods & services (2.7% vs 2.5%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose by 1.4%, the most since April 2022, after a 0.5% increase in March, with transportation prices surging 6.5%. Inflation is expected to quicken further in the coming months, despite government measures to cushion consumers, including a reduction in fuel taxes. The VAT on petroleum products was cut from 16% to 8%, and the fuel stabilisation fund was deployed, with KES 6.2 billion (about $40 million) spent earlier this month to limit pump price increases.
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The annual inflation rate in Kenya ticked higher to 4.4% in March 2026 from a seven-month low of 4.3% in the prior month. Prices accelerated mostly for food & non-alcoholic beverages (7.7% vs 7.3% in February); housing & utilities (2% vs 1.8%) and health (2.7% vs 2.4%). Meanwhile, price growth moderated for alcoholic beverages & tobacco (2.3% vs 2.5%); clothing & footwear (1.8% vs 2%) and restaurants & hotels (2.4% vs 2.7%). Transportation prices also increased at a slower 3.8%, compared to 4% previously, as government fuel procurement measures helped contain sharp price rises, even amid reports of temporary shortages at certain independent fuel retailers. President William Ruto recently unveiled a set of measures designed to protect Kenyans from potential supply disruptions and economic shocks stemming from the ongoing Middle East conflict. On a monthly basis, the CPI rose by 0.5%, after a 0.2% increase in the preceding month.
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