Kenya’s annual inflation rate edged up to 6.6% in August 2026 from 6.5% in July, remaining above the midpoint of the central bank’s 2.5%–7.5% target range for the fifth consecutive month. The main driver of price pressures was transportation, as renewed geopolitical tensions in the Middle East pushed global oil prices higher. Core inflation, which excludes selected volatile items, accelerated to 3.4% from 3.2% in July, underscoring second-round effects stemming from elevated fuel costs. On a monthly basis, the consumer price index (CPI) rose 0.4% in August, following a 0.2% increase in the previous month.