Food and fuel costs increased as Kenya’s annual inflation reached 7.3 per cent in October.
KNBS records higher milk, fuel and transport costs as annual inflation climbs from 6.8% in September.
Kenya’s annual October inflation rate reached 7.3 per cent in 2026 as food, transport and household energy costs increased. The rate rose from 6.8 per cent in September, the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) reported.
KNBS released its Consumer Price Index report on Friday, October 30, detailing price increases across essential household purchases. However, sugar and electricity costs declined during the month.
The latest inflation reading sits just 0.2 percentage points below the Central Bank of Kenya’s upper target of 7.5 per cent.
Food and fuel push October inflation higher
Transport prices rose 17.1 per cent over the year, while food and non-alcoholic beverages increased 10.2 per cent. Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels recorded a 3.7 per cent annual increase.
Together, these three categories account for more than 57 per cent of household expenditure weight, KNBS said. The agency identified them as the main drivers of the annual price increase.
Meanwhile, average petrol prices climbed from Ksh214.95 per litre in September to Ksh227.85 in October. Diesel also increased, moving from Ksh219.04 to Ksh228.77 per litre.
Kerosene recorded a sharper monthly rise of 14.7 per cent, from Ksh192.56 to Ksh220.88 per litre. In public transport, matatu fares between Westlands and Kangemi increased from Ksh40 to Ksh50.
Cooking gas prices also edged higher, with a 13-kilogramme cylinder rising from Ksh3,419.24 to Ksh3,429.61. However, the cost of consuming 200 electricity units fell slightly, from Ksh5,533.76 to Ksh5,529.66.
Milk and staple foods cost more
A 500ml packet of milk rose from Ksh61.23 in September to Ksh64.13 in October. Similarly, fresh unpacketed milk increased from Ksh77.54 to Ksh80.58 per litre.
Cooking oil also became more expensive, moving from Ksh359.36 to Ksh361.04 per litre. Irish potatoes rose from Ksh121.98 to Ksh125.06 per kilogram, while cabbages increased from Ksh79.16 to Ksh82.38.
Beef with bones climbed from Ksh782.68 to Ksh789.29 per kilogram. Meanwhile, a two-kilogram packet of wheat flour rose from Ksh181.11 to Ksh184.88.
Beans increased from Ksh182.76 to Ksh185.75 per kilogram. In contrast, sugar offered some relief, falling from Ksh165.79 to Ksh163.84 per kilogram.
The broader inflation rate has climbed from 4.3 per cent in February, despite a temporary easing in June. It then rose each month from July through October.
Core inflation also increased, reaching 4.3 per cent in October from 4.0 per cent in September. Over the same period, non-core inflation rose from 14.0 per cent to 15.1 per cent.
