The cost of fuel in Kenya will drop slightly this month after the energy regulator announced a marginal cut in pump prices, bringing some relief to motorists and households.
In a statement released on Sunday evening, the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) said Super Petrol will drop by Sh0.79 per litre, Diesel by Sh0.11 and Kerosene by Sh0.80. The new prices take effect from midnight and will remain in place for the next 30 days.
In Nairobi, this means Super Petrol will now retail at Sh184.52, Diesel at Sh171.47 and Kerosene at Sh154.78. Prices in other towns vary slightly due to transport costs: in Mombasa, petrol will sell at Sh181.21, while in Kisumu and Eldoret, motorists will pay Sh184.37 and Sh184.38 respectively.
“The prices are inclusive of the 16 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT), in line with the Finance Act 2023, the Tax Laws (Amendment) Act 2024, and the revised excise duty rates adjusted for inflation,” EPRA said.
The adjustment follows a Sh1 reduction in August, when petrol and kerosene costs fell while diesel prices remained unchanged. In July, however, Kenyans had to contend with a sharp rise—nearly Sh9 a litre across all fuels—after higher freight costs were passed down to consumers.
Analysts linked July’s increase to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman that handles about a fifth of the world’s daily oil and liquefied natural gas trade. Shipping companies had hiked freight charges as a precaution following attacks in the region.
While the latest review offers some relief, many motorists remain cautious. “It’s welcome, but it’s too small to change anything for us,” said John Mwangi, a taxi driver in Nairobi. “Fuel is still very expensive.”
Economists warn that persistent volatility in global markets, coupled with Kenya’s tax regime, will continue to weigh heavily on pump prices.
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